Phoko shines at Mascom Top 8 awards
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday June 5, 2015 14:30
The youthful shot stopper won the prestigious player of the tournament as well as the goalkeeper of the tournament award and walked away with a total of P75, 000 to his name.
He competed for the best player award with his teammate, Alphonse Modisaotsile as well as Township Rollers’ attacking midfielder, Segolame Boy. The award carried a prize of P50, 000.
In the best goalkeeper category, Phoko came out top against Rollers’ Noah Maposa and Nico United’s Edwin Mokibe; walking away with P25, 000. The young goalkeeper, who has played for both the national Under-23 and senior national team, was instrumental in leading GU to their second Top 8 success.
Phoko’s teammate, Benson Shilongo, finished as the top goal scorer with five goals and pocketed P30, 000. The Namibian striker was not present at the ceremony having just come back from South Africa, where he helped his country win the COSAFA Senior Challenge. Rahman Gumbo was named the best coach of the tournament and walked away with P25, 000, beating former Rollers’ coach Madinda Ndlovu and former BDF XI mentor, Letang Kgengwenyane.
Joshua Bondo scooped the referee of the tournament award while Kitso Sibanda was named the best assistant referee.
Meanwhile, the Botswana Premier League (BPL) will host the beMOBILE Premier League awards ceremony tomorrow night.
The battle for the player of the season will be between Mochudi Centre Chiefs’ Lesego Galenamotlhale as well as Boy (Rollers) and Hendrick Moyo (Orapa United).
The award has an amount of P75, 000 pegged to it.
Mike Sithole who led Chiefs to the league title is contesting for the coach of the season against Tebogo Mokute of BR Highlanders and Maxwell Moyo of Orapa United.
Having dominated the Mascom Top 8 awards, Phoko will have another chance to bag another award. He has been nominated in the young player of the season award category together with Kabelo Seakanyeng and Onkabetse Makgantai of BDF XI and Nico United respectively.
The new category, which was only introduced this season, carries a prize of P10, 000. Phoko is also contesting for the goalkeeper of the season award with Robert Mosimanegape (Orapa United) and Basimanebotlhe Moilwa (Sankoyo Bush Bucks). Lemponye Tshireletso has already been confirmed as the winner of the top goal scorer award, while there will also be the supporters’ player of the season and players’ player of the season award categories.
Tirelo Mositwane, Kutlwano Leso and Lekgotla Johannes will battle it out for the referee of the season award, while Oamogetse Godisamang, Moemedi Monakwane and Mogomotsi Morakile have been nominated in the best assistant referee award category.