LeFA president Salemane Phafane and Premier League chairman Leuta Leuta hands over the Player of the Season accolade Jerry Kamela of Lioli
Mikia Kalati
Lioli playmaker Jerry Kamela was last night crowned 2015/16 Vodacom Premier League footballer of the year at a function held in Maseru.
Kamela helped Lioli to the premier league and LNIG Top8 titles and won the biggest award of the night which carried the highest purse of M5000.
The midfielder beat the Matlama duo of Motebang Sera and Jane Thaba-Ntšo to the gong.
Roboama Koloti of Sundawana were the big winners at the
Koloti on the other hand won the Players Player of the season award as well as that of Young Player of the Season award taking home M4,500 for the two awards.
He was contesting the accolade for the Young Player of the Season alongside Khubetsoana Kamela of Linare and Kick4Life’s Lesia Thetsane.
Lioli coach Mosholu ‘Shoes’ Mokhothu beat Matlama’s Moses Maliehe and Mpitsa Marai of LCS for the Coach of the Season award walking away with M2000.
Sele Thetsane of Kick4Life was also a winner on the night as he beat Daniel Jousse of LCS and Kananelo Makhooane of Lioli to the goalkeeper of the season award.
The referee of the season award went to Lebalang Mokete while Pali Pali won the assistant referee of the season accolade. Each took home M2000 for the awards.
Speaking with the Lesotho Times after the awards, Kamela said he was very excited that his hard work had paid off after a long and hard season.
“It was not easy, but I’m very excited to have won the Player of the Season award,” Kamela said.
“This is the result of hard work, but it would not have been possible without the support of my teammates and coaches.
“I just have to keep working hard going into the new season and hope for better things going forward.”
Thetsane, who walked away with the goalkeeper of the season award ahead of veteran campaigners Jousse and Makhooane, said he was delighted to have beaten his more experienced colleagues to the award.
“This says to me that I need to maintain the standards and take my game to another level next season,” Thetsane said.
“This award is due recognition for hard work.
“All in all, I’m very excited to have won the award ahead of two quality goalkeepers and I’m motivated to work even harder next season.”
Meanwhile, yesterday’s event was graced by, among others, Lesotho Football Association president Salemane Phafane, premier league chairperson Leuta Leuta, Sports Deputy Minister ‘Marefuoe ‘Muso and Vodacom Lesotho Managing Executive- Commercial, Johny Dos Santos.
Vodacom, which has been financing the premier league over the last seven years, also announced they had renewed their sponsorship of the league and increased the money by 10 percent.
