“This is one of the highlights in my life,” Kaizer Chiefs captain Tefu Mashamaite reacted after receiving three PSL awards: Absa Premiership Defender of the Season, Absa Premiership Players’ Player of the Season and the PSL Footballer of the Season.

The defender was handed out the trophies at the PSL Awards at Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre on Sunday evening.

He got the first award on the night for being the Defender of the Season. The other two players nominated were Bidvest Wits’ Thulani Hlatshwayo and Mashamaite’s partner in the centre of defence, Erick Mathoho.

This was followed by the Players’ Player of the Season for which all the PSL players voted. Again, Mathoho was nominated as well as Mamelodi Sundowns’ Teko Modise.

It’s rare that PSL players opt to select a defender as the Players’ Player of the Season and that this happened this year shows what a remarkable season the Chiefs captain had.

It was also opportune to see that former Amakhosi legend and defender Lucas Radebe was the one to give Mashamaite the award.

Finally, he was handed over the PSL Footballer of the Season award, which combines all competitions this season (Absa Premiership, MTN8, Telkom Knockout and Nedbank Cup), by the Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula.

The Chiefs captain only missed out on the MTN Last Man Standing award, for which he was also nominated, just being pipped by teammate George Maluleka.

Amazingly, Mashamaite played this season in all 30 league matches, scoring two goals and only getting two yellow cards. The 30-year-old defender also scored the match winner in the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates.

The total prize money won by the Amakhosi star is R450 000.

“It’s a great night as an individual,” reflected Mashamaite. “My thanks go out to my family, my mother, my beautiful kids, the team and the coach. That, as a defender, I was valued so much by my colleagues to become the Players’ Player of the Season is special. I am grateful for that.”

“To be honest, I didn’t expect to get any individual awards, especially because, for me, the team always comes first. However, I have to admit, this is probably the best moment of my life.”

Mashamaite also had some advice: “Follow your dream and never give up!”