Simanyana crowned Mascom top 8 star

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer | Monday September 3, 2012 00:00

 

Simanyana beat two other candidates for the award, Emmanuel Nlu and Keabetswe Jenamiso to win the prestigious award on Thursday night.

'I hope they (parents) lived to see this,' Simanyana said of his late parents as he addressed dignitaries at Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC). He also thanked his teammates for being supportive.

Simanyana  who moved to Rollers in the middle of 2010-2011 from city rivals, Gaborone United (GU) has been a marvel to watch in the blue and gold colours. His efforts have not gone unnoticed by the national team selectors.

Stanley Tshosane called him to the Zebras camp recently and played well after being introduced in the second half against Uganda last week in an international friendly. However he will not be part of the Zebras squad for the crucial 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Mali because of school commitments.

Simanyana's teammate, Kabelo Dambe won the goalkeeper of the tournament award, beating Chamunorwa Madamombe of ECCO City Greens and Mochudi Centre Chiefs' Mompoloki Sephekolo. Mogakolodi Ngele won the top goal scorer award.

He scored six goals in four matches for his side, Rollers before he moved to Platinum Stars in South Africa. ECCO City Greens' coach, Atshele Molapi walked away with the coach of the tournament award ahead of Mike Sithole of Rollers and Madinda Ndlovu of Chiefs. Molapi has been the caretaker coach for ECCO following the sacking of Christopher Tembo in the middle of last season.

The youthful coach managed to lead ECCO to the final of the competition where they lost to Rollers. Kutlwano Leso scooped the referee of the tournament award beating his colleagues, Lekgotla Johannes and Joshua Bondo.

Moemedi Monakwane won the assistant referee of the season ahead of Moletlanyi Keoagile and Elijah Masitha. In the media category, Duma FM sports presenter, McDonald 'Chillyboy' Rakgare walked away with the best electronic journalist (radio), Benjamin Radimo of Botswana Television (Btv) won the best electronic journalist (TV), Fundi Gaoforwe of RB2 won the best radio commentator award, Witness Taziba of Midweek Sun and Botswana Guardian newspapers won the print journalist award, Mmoloki Mothibi walked away with the TV commentator award while Oaitse Sejakgomo of the Sunday Standard and Telegraph newspapers scooped the best photographer award.