Kaizer Chiefs visited the headquarters of league sponsors Absa on Wednesday and the Club’s own main sponsor Vodacom on Thursday.

The players were received with loud applause. Of course, most attention went to the likes of Siphiwe Tshabalala, George Lebese, Itumeleng Khune, George Lebese and captain Tefu ‘Masha’ Mashamaite.

However, there were a lot of Amakhosi fans who routed for left-back Tsepo Masilela, who can indeed look back on an excellent season. “He’s a match winner,” one supporter remarked.

Somewhat surprisingly, Masilela was not nominated for the PSL awards, which will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre on Sunday, May 17.

The 30-year-old defender himself, however, is not in the least concerned about this: “Winning trophies is a team thing. A league title is not won by individuals, it’s about the team. We all won together.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect to be nominated for a PSL award. I am therefore not at all disappointed. For me, winning the league is the ultimo.”

Amakhosi captain Mashamaite has been nominated for four awards: PSL Footballer of the Season, Absa Premiership Players’ Player of the Season, Absa Premiership Defender of the Season and the MTN8 Last Man Standing.

Followed on the heels is Mashamaite’s partner in central defence, Erick ‘Tower’ Mathoho, who is nominated for three awards: PSL Footballer of the Season, Absa Premiership Players’ Player of the Season and Absa Premiership Defender of the Season.

Other players nominated are George Maluleka and Mandla Masango (both for the MTN8 Last Man Standing), Willard Katsande (Absa Premiership Midfielder of the Season), Stuart Baxter (Absa Premiership Coach of the Season) and David Zulu (Absa-lutely Awesome Goal), although he scored the goal when he was still with Chippa United.

“I will rout for Masha and Tower to win the main awards,” concludes Masilela, “they both had excellent seasons.”