Awards spark debate after surprise winners
Larona Makhaiza | Friday May 29, 2026 13:20
Whilst Gaborone United (GU) midfielder Karabo Phiri walked away with three awards on the night, he was surprisingly overlooked for the coveted Player of the Season accolade, which instead went to his teammate, Mpho Kgaswane.
Phiri enjoyed a memorable evening after scooping the Player’s Player of the Season, Supporter’s Player of the Season, and Midfielder of the Season awards, cementing his status as one of the league’s standout performers this season.
The three awards had a total cash prize of P100,000. However, many people inside the football fraternity expected him to cap off the night with the biggest fish after his influential role in GU’s back-to-back titles.
Instead, it was lanky midfielder Kgaswane who emerged as the ultimate winner, clinching the coveted Player of the Season award together with a whopping cash prize of P100,000.
The announcement of Kgaswane as the player of the season immediately sparked debate amongst those in attendance and on social media, with many people questioning how Phiri could dominate most of the categories yet miss out on the top accolade. Despite the qualms, Kgaswane was, however, equally instrumental in GU’s triumphant season, producing consistent performances that helped the Reds win yet another league title. Another moment that left football fans perplexed was in the goalkeeping department. GU goalkeeper, Thabo Motswagole, was crowned Goalkeeper of the Season ahead of Mochudi Centre Chiefs’ shot stopper Keagile Kgosipula. Kgosipula had an impressive season, amassing a total of 18 clean sheets in the 2025-2026 season. Ironically, whilst Motswagole was crowned goalkeeper of the season with a cash prize of P25,000, he failed to make it to the season’s best 11, with Kgosipula preferred instead.
The contrasting outcome quickly became one of the major talking points of the awards ceremony, with many supporters expressing confusion over the selection criteria used.
The night also celebrated some of the league’s finest talent, with players and technical teams recognised for their contributions throughout the season.
And one of the standout players is Jwaneng Galaxy prolific striker Thabang Sesinyi, whose name will forever be etched in the history books for winning a quadruple of Golden Boots consecutively. He walked away with a cash prize of P30,000. Some of the winners of the night included Coach of the Season, Sean Connor and Young Player of the Season, Philip Kaku. However, the inconsistencies in some categories ensured that the awards ceremony ended with heated football debates continuing long after the event concluded. Despite the controversy, the evening highlighted the growing competitiveness of the FNB Premiership and the quality of players currently shining in local football. Title sponsor, FNB Botswana, has been credited with making the league product more attractive and competitive.