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The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) held its inaugural COSAFA Awards on Thursday, May 9 to celebrate the region’s top achievers for the year 2023.
The red carpet was rolled out for the Southern African stars in both the men’s and women’s divisions, while also recognising the region’s top performing coaches and referees.
Bafana Bafana and Al Ahly star player, Percy Tau was voted COSAFA Men’s Player of the Year for his consistent and top performances for both club and country, while Zambian sensation, Racheal Kundananji was voted COSAFA Women’s Player of the Year.
Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Rulani Mokwena’s achievements with Mamelodi Sundowns which included the inaugural African Football League title saw him voted Coach of the Year, while Banyana Banyana coach Dr. Desiree Ellis took the same accolade in the women’s division as the best Women’s Coach of the Year.
Other Mamelodi Sundowns players recognised included Ronwen Williams who walked away with the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year accolade while his counterpart, Andile Dlamini who was instrumental in her club’s recent TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League title won the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
The recognition of the best referees in the region saw Angola’s Jerson Dos Santos voted Referee of the Year in the men’s division while Zambia’s Diana Chikotesha was voted the best Women’s Referee.
Seasoned commentator and African football scribe, Mark Gleeson was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement in Services to Media for his years of services in African football.
COSAFA AWARDS 2023 WINNERS:
MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Percy Tau (South Africa)
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Racheal Kundananji (Zambia)
MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR
Rulani Mokwena (Mamelodi Sundowns)
WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR
Dr Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
MEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
WOMEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies & South Africa)
MEN’S MOST PROMISING PLAYER
Thapelo Maseko (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
WOMEN’S MOST PROMISING PLAYER
Leticia Chinyamula (Ascent Academy & Malawi)
COSAFA BEST MALE REFEREE
Jerson Dos Santos (Angola)
COSAFA BEST FEMALE REFEREE
Diana Chikotesha (Zambia)
COSAFA MOST PROMISING REFEREE
Tsiaro Randriambololoma (Madagascar)
COSAFA REFEREE LEGEND
Victor Gomes (South Africa)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR SERVICES AS A PLAYER
Janine van Wyk
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN SERVICES TO REFEREEING
Felix Tangawarima
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN SERVICES TO WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
Fran Hilton-Smith
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN SERVICES TO COACHING
Sunday Chidzambwa
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN SERVICES TO THE MEDIA
Mark Gleeson
