Betway Premiership Awards Shine Spotlight on Abdeslam Ouaddou, Sipho Chaine and Bright Ndlovu After 2025/26 Season

The Betway Premiership has officially confirmed its final monthly award winners for May, closing out the 2025/26 season with recognition for some of the league’s most consistent performers. The latest honours went to Abdeslam Ouaddou, Sipho Chaine and Bright Ndlovu, who each delivered standout performances in their respective roles. The awards reflect both individual excellence and team success, with strong representation from champions Orlando Pirates and competitive contributions from other clubs such as Sekhukhune United. The selections were made after careful evaluation by an independent panel of PSL-accredited journalists and broadcasters, ensuring that performance and consistency were prioritised. The announcement marks the conclusion of a season that produced tight competition across all categories.

Abdeslam Ouaddou secured the Coach of the Month award after guiding Orlando Pirates through a dominant end to the season. His team recorded three wins and one draw in their final four matches, a run that played a key role in securing the Betway Premiership title and ending a 14-year league drought. This achievement also earned him his third Coach of the Month recognition, reinforcing his growing reputation as one of the league’s most effective tacticians. Ouaddou’s ability to maintain discipline, structure and attacking balance proved decisive during a high-pressure title race. His leadership ensured that Pirates finished the campaign with consistency at a time when rivals were also pushing strongly for honours.

The competition for the coaching award was intense, with Miguel Cardoso of Mamelodi Sundowns and TS Galaxy’s Bernard Parker both in contention. Cardoso remained a strong challenger throughout the season, maintaining Sundowns’ traditional competitiveness at the top end of the table. Parker, in turn, impressed with his ability to stabilise TS Galaxy during the final stretch, guiding them clear of relegation pressure and playoff uncertainty. Despite their strong cases, Ouaddou’s unbeaten run at the most crucial stage of the season gave him the edge. His success highlights the importance of late-season momentum in determining individual coaching honours in the Betway Premiership.

The Player of the Month award went to Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, who delivered one of the most impressive goalkeeping performances in recent league history. Chaine recorded four clean sheets in four matches, an achievement that underlined his consistency and concentration under pressure. His performances also saw him break the all-time record for clean sheets in a single season, finishing with an extraordinary 21 shutouts. These numbers reflect not only individual brilliance but also his leadership in organising the Pirates defence. His contribution played a central role in the club’s title-winning campaign, especially in tightly contested matches where defensive discipline made the difference.

Chaine’s rise throughout the season has established him as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the league. His shot-stopping ability, command of the penalty area and calm distribution helped Orlando Pirates maintain control in crucial moments. In a title race often decided by small margins, his consistency ensured that Pirates remained difficult to break down. His recognition as Player of the Month serves as validation of a season defined by focus and resilience. It also strengthens his case as one of the standout performers in South African football this year.

The Goal of the Month award went to Bright Ndlovu of Sekhukhune United for a powerful long-range strike against Siwelele FC at Peter Mokaba Stadium on 23 May. The goal stood out for its technique, timing and execution, as Ndlovu struck the ball with precision from distance to beat the goalkeeper. It was a moment that highlighted his confidence and ability to produce match-defining contributions from unexpected situations. The strike quickly gained attention as one of the most memorable goals of the season. It also showcased Sekhukhune United’s growing capacity to produce individual moments of quality in key fixtures.

Beyond the individual winners, the Betway Premiership awards also reflected the broader competitive balance of the 2025/26 season. The S’bonise & Win campaign added another layer of engagement by rewarding fans throughout the year, with 157 winners selected across multiple draws. This included 16 Dial Up winners, highlighting the league’s efforts to connect directly with supporters and reward loyalty. The campaign reinforced the idea that football success extends beyond the pitch, involving fans who follow and support their teams throughout the season. It also demonstrated how commercial partnerships continue to shape the modern football experience in South Africa.

The full list of monthly winners throughout the season shows how competitive the league remained across different periods. Players from Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, TS Galaxy and other clubs all featured in various categories, reflecting a spread of talent across the division. Coaches such as Ouaddou and Cardoso repeatedly appeared in the coaching category, showing sustained influence over their teams’ performances. The recurring presence of certain clubs at the top of these awards highlights consistency as a key factor in success. It also confirms that individual brilliance often aligns closely with team performance over a long campaign.

The judging panel, made up of respected football journalists and broadcasters, ensured that selections were based on performance metrics and match impact rather than reputation alone. Their involvement added credibility to the awards and maintained transparency throughout the process. As the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season concludes, the recognition of Ouaddou, Chaine and Ndlovu captures the essence of a competitive and entertaining campaign. Each winner contributed in a different way, but all shared a common thread of consistency and influence. The final awards serve as a reflection of a season defined by tight margins, standout moments and high-level football across the league.