Kanyenda sweeps SA awards

Flames veteran striker Esau ‘Black Mamba’ Kanyenda received a new car and K1.8 million after emerging best player and top goalscorer for South Africa’s Polokwane City FC on Friday.

The Sowetan newspaper reported that Kanyenda received the car and R35 000 for being the club’s best player for last season. He also received R25 000 as the Golden Boot Award winner.

Kanyenda was recognised for his sterling displays when Polokwane successfully campaigned for promotion from First Division to Premier Soccer League (PSL).

In a telephone interview on Saturday evening, Kanyenda said he was determined to build on last season’s performance with the PSL rookies.

“I am very happy to get these awards. When people have written you off, you need to show that you can still do the job. I have been struggling in recent years because I was unsettled. Now that I am here to stay, I hope I can be at my best again. I hope I can stay free from injuries,” explainedKanyenda who has since recovered from injury.

During the awards in Limpopo City, Puleng Tlolane was voted the team’s youngest player of the season and received R15 000 while MaxwellMolala got the same amount for being the most improved player in the team.

Siphesihle Nzimande won the Best Goal of the Season Award worth R15 000 while the Chairperson’s Award went to the team’s supporters from the University of Limpopo’s Turfloop campus.

They will be rewarded with free trips and tickets to the team’s home and away games this season.

Polokwane chairperson Johnny Mogaladi has since challenged that his club is in the top-tier South African league to stay.

“We will demonstrate on the field of play that we are ready to compete with the best. We must prove that Limpopo is a province of stars,” he said.