Amakhosi striker Kaizer Motaung Junior was the kingpin on Monday evening as he picked up five awards as well as three players of the month awards at the Standard Bank sponsored annual Kaizer Chiefs Players’ Awards ceremony held at the luxurious Monte Casino complex in Fourways in Johannesburg.

The young Chiefs striker had been nominated for six of the nine categories and part of his five trophy haul was the coveted prize for player of the season which came with a R75 000 prize money and a new Nissan X-Trail.

The evening kicked off in grand style with The Amakhosi Shakers, the first act up on stage entertaining the crowd with a scintillating dance routine and once the formalities were over the business end of the ceremony began.

First up the players who were the outstanding players of the month through out the season received their prizes, with Siyabonga Nkosi getting the nod for the August player of the month. Rowen Fernandez followed him on to the podium collecting awards for his outstanding performances in September 2006 and January 2007, Kaizer Junior edged out Fernandez in this category as he won the prizes for the December 2006, February 2007 and March 2007 player of the month.

Veteran Chiefs midfielder Thabo Mooki defended the best dressed award which he won at the end of the 2005-2006 award ceremony, when he was once again announced as the best dressed player. Mooki, well known for his dazzling trickery on the field of play, has often been praised for his suave fashion sense.

Fernandez was back up on the podium. The Chiefs goalkeeper collected the Fair Play award and donated his R10 000 cheque to the Red Cross Children’s Fund, the big hearted Fernandez giving thanks for his blessings which earlier in the day saw him sign a lucrative three-year deal with German Bundesliga team Arminia Bielefeld.

Siyabonga Nkosi added the Discovery of the year prize to his August Player of the month award. Kaizer Motaung Junior thereafter began his regular track to the podium collecting his fourth prize of the evening in the goal of the season category for his 85th minute sizzler against Jomo Cosmos back in September last year. With Chiefs trailing 2-1 at the FNB Stadium, Motaung found himself on the edge of the Cosmos penalty area and from some distance out was able to send the ball across goal around the Cosmos keeper and into the net.

Kaizer Jr was back again shortly after that collecting the top goal scorer of the year prize, he was then voted as the players’ player of the year. There was one category where he was nominated but did not win the award instead Serge Djiehoua who ended the season strongly with three goals in his last three league outings, piped Kaizer Junior to the award for the most improved player.

In between the awards ceremony Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung took the podium and in his address to the crowd which included a number of politicians and famous sporting personality the likes of Jonty Rhodes and Lucas Radebe.

He said; “The 2006-2007 season might have presented more misfortunes than successes for us; we need to use this experience to rise above what has happened and come back stronger in the new campaigner”. He then called up on the stage chief executive of the Premier Soccer League Trevor Phillips and handed him a special Chairman’s appreciation award. The outgoing CEO was awarded for his outstanding contribution to the development of football in South Africa.

It was left till last but most would have expected him to walk away with the all important Player of the year prize. Kaizer Motaung Jr was able to fend off the challenge of Shaun Bartlett and Rowen Fernandez to add his name on to the celebrated list of Kaizer Chiefs players of the season winners.

In an enigmatic and enthusiastic victory speech the man who came out of his shell during the 2006-2007 finding twelve goals along the way, said of his multiple award winning evening. “Firstly I must thank the All Mighty for giving me the strength to play well all season long, then I must thank Ernst Middendorp for playing me in the beginning part. Thereafter to Kosta Papic for keeping the faith with me and continuing to play me, most importantly to all my team mates as without their help I could not have scored the goals I have and played the way I did without them.”

With that the curtain came down on the 2006-2007 Kaizer Chiefs Players’ Awards ceremony, with the Chiefs first team players going on leave from Tuesday until late in June when The Amakhosi return for their preseason preparations. A number of the Chiefs players will be aiming to have the PSL trophy on display the next time The Amakhosi gather for their annual player of the year awards.

The Chiefs awards may be over but Kaizer Motaung Junior, who swept the table clean on Monday evening, will be hoping he can repeat the performance on Wednesday evening at the PSL Awards ceremony where he has been nominated along with Mamelodi Sundowns duo of Godfrey Sapula and Surprise Moriri for the PSL Player of the season prize.

All the nominees and winners from Monday Nights Awards

1. Best Dressed Award sponsored by Nike:

Nominees:


Shaun Bartlett


Thabo Mooki


Jimmy Tau


Winner: Thabo Mooki

2. Fair Play


Nominees:


Rowen Fernandez


Patrick Mayo


Siyabonga Nkosi


Winner: Rowen Fernandez

3. Amakhosi Magazine Readers Choice Awards


Nominees:


Kaizer Motaung Junior


Jimmy Tau


Shaun Bartlett


Winner: Kaizer Motaung Junior

4. Player’s player of the year


Nominees:


Rowen Fernandez


Patrick Mayo


Kaizer Motaung Junior


Winner: Kaizer Motaung Junior

5. Goal of the year


Nominees:


Serge Djiehoua (Orlando Pirates Vs Kaizer Chiefs 28 – 04 – 07)


Kaizer Motaung Junior (Kaizer Chiefs Vs Jomo Cosmos 13 – 09 – 06)


Derrick Spencer (Lamontville Golden Arrows Vs Kaizer Chiefs 01 – 10 – 06)


Winner: Kaizer Motaung Junior (Kaizer Chiefs Vs Jomo Cosmos 13 – 09 – 06)

6. Top Goal Scorer


Kaizer Motaung Junior

7. Discovery of they year


Nominees:


Itumeleng Khune


Rotson Kilambe


Siyabonga Nkosi


Winner: Siyabonga Nkosi

8. Most Improved Player


Nominees:


Serge Djiehoua


Kaizer Motaung Junior


Derrick Spencer


Winner: Serge Djiehoua

9. Player of the year


Nominees


Kaizer Motaung Junior


Rowen Fernandez


Shaun Bartlett


Winner: Kaizer Motaung Junior

Players of the month winners


August: Siyabonga Nkosi


September: Rowen Fernandez


October: Rotson Kilambe


November: Shaun Bartlett


December: Kaizer Motaung Junior


January: Rowen Fernandez


February: Kaizer Motaung Junior


March: Kaizer Motaung Junior


April: Serge Djiehoua


May: Jimmy Tau

Chairman’s special appreciation award: Trevor Phillips

Standard Bank appreciation award: Entire Kaizer Chiefs first team given Portable DVD Players by Standard Bank