Posted in News on Jun 08, 2004.
Orlando Pirates diminutive midfielder, Benedict “Tso” Vilakazi and Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper, Moeneeb “Slim Kat” Josephs are also short-listed for this prestigious award.
This will bring two players who represent the future of South African football, Josephs and Vilakazi, up against a symbol of the country's successful soccer past, Moshoeu, in the battle for this coveted prize.
The 38-year-old Moshoeu, whose experience and guile was a catalyst behind Kaizer Chiefs' return to the championship-winning podium this season, is up against three young players, who have done equally well throughout the season.
“We are all winners,” said Moshoeu. “This season is like a celebration for Chiefs and the players in this fold should be proud of themselves as they have made history and no one can erase that.”
Moshoeu's teammate Nengomasha proved a more than capable partner for Moshoeu in the Chiefs midfield this season and was pivotal in club's first league championship victory in 12 years. The Zimbabwean international will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Wilfred Mugeyi, who was the first foreign-born player to win this award in 1997.
Vilakazi, who has proven his leadership skills at Pirates, was many people's favourite to win the award in 2001 when the Buccaneers won the Castle Premiership. Again the diminutive midfielder has proven to be consistent this past season by being nominated among the four finalists.
Josephs, who like Vilakazi forced his way into the current Bafana Bafana
squad, was the winner of the Castle Premiership Player's Player of the Season award last term. His continued fine form in the Ajax goal sees him recognised once again, especially after helping Ajax escape relegation last season and being an integral part of their title-chasing campaign this season where they finished second to Chiefs.
The winner will get a record-breaking prize of R75 000-00.
The winner of the Castle Premiership Player of the Season award will be announced at the traditional 'end of season' banquet in Johannesburg on June 17.
JOHN MOSHOEU
In the prime of his playing days, Moshoeu is repeatedly proving that age is but a number. The elegant 38-year-old midfielder was the creative catalyst behind Kaizer Chiefs return to the top of South African football and at the same time, finally won a championship for himself after a glittering career.
South Africa’s most capped international returned to the Amakhosi after playing in Turkey, where he had been one of the top foreign stars at clubs like Genclerbirligi, Kocaelispor and the Istanbul giants Fenerbahce. Bringing his considerable experience to Naturena, he helped turn Chiefs back into a title winning side with his well-tie runs, incisive passes and a sage head.
Moshoeu started his professional career at Giant Blackpool, a side he remained loyal to even when he was in hot demand from bigger sides. He eventually moved to Chiefs in 1993 but stayed for just half a season-long before embarking on his Turkish odyssey.
This season, Moshoeu was the leading goal scorer for the team (with a total of eight goals) for much of the Castle Premier League campaign, emphasising his quality.
TENASHE NENGOMASHA
Aged just 21, Nengomasha has been one of the revelations of the Castle Premiership season playing a specific role for his club, which proved highly effective and ultimately most important in their annexing of the championship.
The youthful Zimbabwean international, also represented his country at the African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia this season, proved the backbone of the AmaKhosi’s success with his defensive midfield play, where he was a tackler, effective ball winner and distributor at the heart of the team’s line-up.
Nengomasha also marked his best season yet with his first-ever goal for the club in over two seasons in a Chiefs’ jersey when he scored against Zulu Royals last month (May). The Zimbabwean was spotted playing for his country’s under-20 side at a Cosafa youth championship by Chiefs in 2001, who quickly signed him to their books. He has proven arguably one of their best signings of the last decade.
BENEDICT VILAKAZI
The diminutive frame of Orlando Pirates midfielder Benedict Vilakazi was one of the reassuring symbols in a disappointing year for last season’s champions.
The 21-year-old Bafana Bafana international is now a seasoned professional in the Castle Premier Soccer League and will next season past the 100-game mark in his Pirates career.
Formerly captain of both the under-20 and under-23 national sides, Vilakazi has been a nominee for the top award in domestic soccer before.
He made full his debut for Pirates against archrivals Kaizer Chiefs in June 2000, thrown into the deep end in a display of the confidence that his coaches have had in his ability. He has also been a regular goal scorer and his career tally is now approaching 30 in both league and cup football. His honours also include scoring a dramatic individual winning goal for Bafana Bafana in the second leg of the final of the Cosafa Castle Cup in 2002 when they beat Malawi in Durban.
MONEEB JOSEPHS
Last year, the Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper was named as the Castle Premiership Player’s Player of the Season at the annual Castle Premier End of Season awards. He returns again to the spotlight with a nomination as one of the four candidates for the Castle Premiership Player of the Season award.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper continued where he left off last campaign, thrilling fans with his lightning reflexes, his confident approach and the control of his own penalty area.
His contribution helped Ajax to the runners-up berth in the Castle Premiership after last season when they narrowly avoided relegation. Josephs also celebrated his club success by being promoted to the national squad and winning his first cap for South Africa last October. He was also recently drafted into the World Cup squads by new coach Stuart Baxter.
Josephs made his debut for Cape Town Spurs as a teenager in late 1997, following in the footsteps of Bafana Bafana legend Andre Arendse. After two seasons at Spurs, he was part of the amalgamation with Seven Stars which led to the formation of Ajax Cape Town. He recently went on trials at Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
