Appollis, Mokoena, Mofokeng Nominated For PSL Footballer Of The Season

Oswin Appollis, Teboho Mokoena, and Relebohile Mofokeng are set to vie for the PSL’s ultimate individual prize: the PSL Footballer of the Season.

The Bafana Bafana trio, who recently helped South Africa reach the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time, are the final nominees for what is widely considered the most coveted award in local football.

The awards ceremony will take place virtually on 27 July, continuing a trend that has stayed in place for the last six seasons. The last time the PSL held a live, in-person awards event was back in the 2018/19 season at the Durban ICC.

Thembinkosi Lorch claimed the Footballer of the Season crown then, marking the last time an Orlando Pirates player won the award before this historic 2025/26 campaign.

Sundowns players had won this specific award for five consecutive seasons before this year (including past triumphs by Peter Shalulile, Themba Zwane, Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena himself.)

Statistically, Mofokeng and Appollis appear to be head and shoulders ahead of Mokoena after helping Orlando Pirates clinch the Betway Premiership title for the first time in 14 years.

In doing so, they wrestled the league crown away from Mamelodi Sundowns, who had previously won it an astonishing eight times in a row.

Mofokeng, who has since been transferred to Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, was a talismanic figure for the Buccaneers, racking up 10 goals and eight assists in 27 league matches. His stellar form, alongside that of Appollis, also propelled Pirates to domestic cup glory in both the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout Cup.

Appollis, whom Pirates signed from Polokwane City at the start of the season, was the most heavily utilized player for the Soweto giants in the league last season, accumulating 2,169 minutes on the pitch. Playing in all 30 league matches, Appollis netted nine goals and provided six assists.

Meanwhile, Mokoena—whose Sundowns side ultimately surrendered their league title—featured in 23 league matches, contributing four goals and two assists.

The PSL Footballer of the Season award is nominated and voted for exclusively by the head coaches of the Premier Division. Only one head coach per club is permitted to vote, and coaches are strictly barred from nominating or voting for players from their own teams.