South Africa celebrated big wins at the inaugural COSAFA Awards at the Sandton Convention Centre last Thursday. Zimbabwean players, apart from the legendary Sunday Chidzambwa, missed out on recognition.

Bafana Bafana forward Percy Tau, based in Egypt, won Men’s Player of the Year but couldn’t attend the ceremony. Dr Jordaan accepted the award on his behalf, praising COSAFA’s progress, particularly at the recent AFCON where five representatives showcased the region’s talent.

Other South African winners included Ronwen Williams and Andile Dlamini as Men’s and Women’s Goalkeepers of the Year respectively, and Thapelo Maseko as Men’s Most Promising Player. Mamelodi Sundowns’ Rulani Mokwena and Dr Desiree Ellis were awarded Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year respectively.

Zimbabwe’s Sunday Chidzambwa received a lifetime achievement award for coaching, while Victor Gomes was named COSAFA Referee Legend. Janine van Wyk, Fran Hilton-Smith, and Mark Gleeson were also honored for their contributions to football.

The COSAFA Awards aim to recognize and reward football players in Southern Africa. Here’s the full list of 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