Percy Tau and Zambia forward Racheal Kundananji took home the best player prizes at the inaugural 2023 COSAFA Awards on Thursday.

Tau won the COSAFA Men’s Player of the Year award after a stellar 2023 with Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Bafana Bafana. Kundananji was the COSAFA Women’s Player of the Year following her eye-catching performances for former club Madrid FC and Zambia. This also includes scoring at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

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There were eight player/coach awards, four referee prizes and five Lifetime Achievement recipients. This is after COSAFA honoured those past and present who have made an impact on the game in the region. The player/coach and referee awards covered the period January-December, 2023.

They were handed over by some of the region’s greatest legends, such as Kalusha Bwalya, Lucas Radebe and Dipsy Selolwane, with many more top former players in attendance on the night.

Mamelodi Sundowns had several winners on the night, including Rulani Mokwena, who was named COSAFA Men’s Coach for the Year. This follows an outstanding 2023 in which the club won a record sixth league title in a row and the inaugural African Football League

“This award is for all of my players, an incredible group who keep on achieving. I wouldn’t be here without them. I must thank my club Mamelodi Sundowns for the support they have given to me,” Mokwena said.

Sundowns and South Africa gloveman Ronwen Williams won the award for COSAFA Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

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There was a Sundowns ‘double’ in the keeping department as Andile Dlamini claimed the COSAFA Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award as she helped the team to a ‘treble’ of domestic, regional and continental glory in the CAF Women’s Champions League.

Sundowns were not done yet as their young star Thapelo Maseko won the COSAFA Men’s Most Promising Player of the Year award for footballers aged 20 or under in 2023.

The award for COSAFA Women’s Coach of the Year went to Dr Desiree Ellis, for leading South Africa to the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup for the first time, a continuation of her success having won the last four CAF Women’s Coach of the Year prizes.  

“I was there at the very first COSAFA Women’s Championship in Zimbabwe in 2002, so that was the start of my journey with COSAFA. The tournaments have been a huge boost to women’s football and also helped us develop new talent,” Ellis said.

Leticia Chinyamula from Malawi claimed the award for the COSAFA Women’s Most Promising Player of the Year having helped the She Flames to a maiden COSAFA Women’s Championship at the age of only 17.  

There were also four prizes handed out for referees. Young Tsiaro Randriambololoma from Madagascar took home the COSAFA Most Promising Referee prize, while Diana Chikotesha of Zambia was handed COSAFA Best Female Referee

Jerson Dos Santos from Angola was COSAFA Best Male Referee and recently retired whistleman Victor Gomes was also the recipient of the award for Referee Legend.

There were also Lifetime Achievement awards handed to worthy recipients.

Finally, legendary journalist and commentator Mark Gleeson, the voice of African football, was recognised for his services in the media.

THE FULL LIST OF THE COSAFA AWARDS WINNERS ON THURSDAY NIGHT 

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