Chiefs looked on Tuesday evening as Mamelodi Sundowns took all the major honours at the Premier Soccer League awards, on Thursday afternoon it was Chiefs who got the opportunity to shine again. The Amakhosi walked away with five individual awards at the ABSA Cup prize giving ceremony held at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways Johannesburg, with Chiefs evening winning an award for their off field creativity.

The first honour that went the way of The Amakhosi was one that did not come from any on field success but was from way up in the stands as Kaizer Chiefs web master Yusuf Muhammad shared the prize for the dream journalist award with Lesiba Langa of the Citizen Newspaper. There were cheers and whistles of delight as the web man netted his award, first to congratulate him was brand manager Dara Carroll followed by team manager Bobby Motaung and Coach Ernst Middendorp.

Yusuf’s award was the beginning of what turned out to be a Kaizer Chiefs dominated function as Louis Agyemang than picked up his prize for being the top goal scorer; he was followed by goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez who collected the moment of brilliance award.

Rowen was awarded this prize after his heroics in the semi finals against Mamelodi Sundowns booked Chiefs their passage to the final and he matched up his semi final performance with a man of the match performance against Orlando Pirates in the final. As he made some superb stops during the game and than saved from Isaac Chansa in the shoot out before stepping up and converting the all important fifth penalty which handed Chiefs the Cup.

Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp’s efforts in guiding The Amakhosi to the ABSA Cup was not forgotten as he staved off close competition from the Sundowns coaching duo of Miguel Gamondi and Neil Tovey as well as that of Classic coach Mlungisi Ngubane. To take home the coach of the tournament award and with it a R30 000 cash prize, the Chiefs coach was praised for his gentlemanly conduct and for guiding the Amakhosi through a tough draw.

The final award and the most sought after of all the awards that of player of the tournament also made it’s way to Naturena as Patrick Mayo shrugged off the challengers of Andre Arendse, Patrick Mayo, Gift Leremi and Siyabonga Nomvete. To be named as the top man of the 2006 ABSA Cup and with it he took home a brand new car as well as a very hard earned cash incentive of R 40 000.

Out going PSL CEO Trevor Phillips congratulated Chiefs on their heart stopping victory and also stated that the decision that was made to play the tournament in Durban was the correct one. The CEO who vacates his position in November along with soon to be retired PSL general manager Dan Leboa were both given special appreciation awards by the sponsors ABSA. They received this honour for their contributions in ensuring that the ABSA Cup since it’s inception in 2003 has become a major success, and that it really has turned out to be the cup of dreams.

ABSA Cup Awards roll of honour

Coach of the tournament receives R 30 000

Ernst Middendorp (Kaizer Chiefs)

Moment of Brilliance receives R 20 000

Rowen Fernandez (Kaizer Chiefs)

Top Goal Scorer receives R 40 000

Louis Agyemang (Kaizer Chiefs)

Player of the tournament receives R 40 000 Plus a Ford Focus

Patrick Mayo (Kaizer Chiefs)

Best Print Journalist receives R 20 000

Nkareng Matshe (The Star)

Best Photographer receives R 20 000

Veli Nhlapo (Sowetan)

Best TV Journalist or Commentator receives R20 000

Award Shared by Maseru Koaho (SABC TV News) & Thabiso Ntema (E-TV)

Best Radio Journalist or Commentator receives R20 000

Award Shared by Nick Feinberg ( Heart FM) & Simon Ramafalo (Thobela FM)

Dream Journalist Award receives R20 000

Award Shared by Lesiba Langa (Citizen) & Yusuf Muhammad (www.kaizerchiefs.com)