Santos FC end-of-year function


23 July 2010

On a glamorous, star-studded Friday night, Engen Santos Football Club celebrated an impressive year for South African football and presented the club’s 2009/10 Season Awards at the elegant Westin Grand Hotel in Cape Town.

Since the overwhelming recent success of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, South African football finds itself in a state of euphoria and expectation that rivals any other event in its history.

For the first time since the birth of our democracy, the country is flush with self-belief that we can achieve anything we put our minds, to and the streets are awash with a renewed desire to rebuild communities and ensure everyone is equally equipped to push our society to unprecedented heights.

It is in this spirit of celebration and determination to build for the future that The People’s team decided to look back on their achievements over the past season.

Engen Santos enjoyed a fourth place finish on the Premier Soccer League (PSL) log; a commendable improvement on the previous (2008/2009) season. However, the club was less successful in the cup competitions, getting knocked out of both on their first outing; albeit both times on penalties.

Scooping two big awards on the night, Engen Santos’ reliable stalwart at the back Wayne Arendse received the Players’ Player of the Year Award, voted by his team-mates, and the Player of the Year Award. Tyren Arendse won for the second consecutive year the Sportman of the Year Award.

Two of the most coveted awards also presented were the Nazmie Bardien Award presented to Abubaker “Boebie” Schloss, while the Chairman Award was handed to Thandokazi Jiyani, affectionately known as “Vicky”.

Please find below a list of all the award winners:

Mitchells Plain United Player Awards for 2009/2010 season

• Most improved player – Darren Omaticus

• Sportsman of the year – Sizwe Mdonga

• Top Goalscorer for a third year running - Gregory Roelf

• Players Player of the year – Mason October

• Player of the year – Ernil Kemp

Santos FC award winners for the 2009/2010 season.

• Recipient of Nazmie Bardien Award: Boebie Schloss

This award was created in memory of the founder of Santos Football Club, the late Mr Nazmie Bardien. The award celebrates the qualities Mr Bardien held dear: loyalty, dedication and commitment to football in the Western Cape. This is the third time the award is being celebrated.

Mr Schloss has been with the club for more than 25 years, ever since he was at school. In that time, he has done great work for the club in every aspect from a marketing perspective to the PR department. Whether on a voluntary basis or a permanent basis, Mr Schloss has been involved in the running of the club one way or another.

He was also close to the late Mr Nazmie Bardien himself, and it was in fact Mr Bardien who brought Boebie to the club. Boebie Schloss exemplifies the values espoused by Mr Bardien, and Santos FC deems it fitting that Mr Schloss be honoured in this manner. We pray that this relationship continues for many, many years.

• Nominees for Most Promising Player of the Year:

Jurie Basie – 24 –year old midfielder Basie has made five appearances for the club since moving south from PJ Stars. Coach Boebie Solomons and the rest of the technical team believe he has shown he has what it takes to stamp down a regular first team place in the near future.

Shafeeq Arendse – The young Capetonian midfielder started his professional career before ending up at Engen Santos FC via the University of Pretoria last season. The 22-year old has grown from strength to strength since joining the club, and is also in the running for rookie of the year award.

Lee Langeveldt – The goalkeeper from Cape Town joined the club in the 2007/2008 season, when he had to compete against far more established names for the No.1 spot. However, he has since proved himself a worthy contender and provides his coaches with peace of mind knowing that the team is well served between the sticks.

Winner: Shafeeq Arendse

• Nominees for Rookie of the Year:

Boitumelo Mafoka – The Botswana international midfielder scored twice since joining The People’s Team last season. It was a promising start to his career in the Cape and great things are expected from him in seasons to come.

Shafeeq Arendse – That Mr Arendse has been nominated for two awards bears testimony to his fiery will to succeed and his willingness to plug in the long hours to realise his aims. It is a quality that will see him continue his fantastic growth as a player and person.

Thabiso Ntloana – Former Winners Park defender Thabiso Ntloana quickly established himself as a regular starter in his very first season at Santos FC. The right back is equally adept pushing forward as he is at keeping things tight at the back, and was a mainstay of the Santos team that pushed for top league honours last term.

Winner: Thabiso Ntloana

• Nominees for Sportsman of the Year:

Tyren Arendse

Now in his third consecutive season back at the People’s Team

Musa Nkondo

Recently signed

Tasleem Paulse

Paulse is a product of the youth academy. He’s been at the club since a very young age; A skilful winger who works hard for the team.

Winner: Tyren Arendse

• Top Goalscorer: Joint winners – Phikolethu Spelman and Erwin Isaacs

Spelman and Isaacs formed a lethal partnership up front for the men in yellow, scoring 16 goals between them in the shortened season. Their pace, skill and intelligence in the attacking third also created numerous opportunities for other players to provide the killer touch. It can only be good news for the team if they continue their form in the upcoming season.

• Winner of Players’ Player of the Year: Wayne Arendse

Being chosen by one’s team mates as their player of the year is surely the ultimate compliment. It shows that not only do the big defender’s colleagues appreciate his technical mastery at the back, but they also applaud his overall contribution to the team. He brings calmness to the side that only a select few players can.

• Winner of Chairman’s Award: Thandokazi Jiyani.

The lady everyone knows as ‘Vicky’ has been with the club since 2004. First employed as a cleaner and a tea lady, she set her mind to working her way up and now takes care of the administrative aspects of the club. She is a shining example of how one can reach one’s goals through sheer desire and hard work. Santos FC salutes Vicky, who has become san integral part of the smooth running of the club.

• Nominees for Player of the Year:

Wayne Arendse

As solid as Table Mountain and as cool as a Shaolin Monk, the giant central defender at times makes opposition forwards feel silly with the ease with which he thwarts attacks. He is more than slightly useful going forward as well. Since coming through the ranks at Santos, Arendse has continued to work hard and improve every facet of his game, and it is paying off.

Tshepo Motsoeneng

An agile and intelligent goalkeeper, Tshepo Motsoeneng saved his team a number of times in the season past. It speaks volumes that he was nominated as a contender for PSL goalie of the year. Santos FC is in safe hands if Motsoeneng continues his sparkling form.

Graham King

The man with winged boots is a nightmare for opposition defences. If the wide man is not running at them at breakneck speed, he’s zig-zagging through like a slalom skier or popping great crosses into the box for his team mates to latch onto. As a bonus, he himself has a keen eye for goal. He undoubtedly brings a unique and invaluable dimension to the Santos attack.

Winner: Wayne Arendse