Eight of 16 amateur football clubs, plus selective individuals, scooped top prizes at the year-end awards function of Safa in the Mangaung Metro.
The federation rewarded the individuals, technical officials, players and managers for excellence during the just-ended Mangaung Metro Regional League 2022-’23 season.
Held on 27 April, the event officially brought the curtain down on the competition that for two consecutive years has continued with two streams (A and B), and with eight clubs in both streams. The decision became effective in 2021, in line with the Covid-19 regulations aimed at minimising the impact of the global pandemic. The pandemic regulations were repealed in June last year.
Following that, Lucas Matobako, president of Safa Mangaung, announced that all league competitions in the Mangaung region would return to normal: one stream of 16 clubs, in 2023-’24.
The eight top-seeded clubs of the past season share the R48 000 prize money.
Of the eight teams that ended in the bottom half of the league, the two that finished in position 15 and 16 were demoted to the lowest rank: the Safa Mangaung Interstate Bus Lines (IBL) Promotional League.
The champion, ProMates FC, received the top trophy at the function. Three players of the Botshabelo-based side also received accolades.
Individual award recipients are: Tankiso Senthebane (goalkeeper of the season); Andile Nxogani (defender of the season); Malefane Mathoka (best midfielder of the season); Moseneke Khara (top striker of the season); Khanya Selelane (most promising player of the season); Thabo Johnie (player of the season); Mabote Pejane (coach of the season) and Levein Vries (Ocean X1, manager of the season).
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