Last Saturday will be one of the more memorable days for most of the players for Black Leopards Football Club. They were presented with special awards during a ceremony that was held at the Oasis Lodge in Polokwane.

Two Malawian players, Robert Ngambi and Peter Mponda, received the supporters’ player of the season and the players’ player of the season awards respectively. Each of them was presented with a cheque to the value of R25 000.

The team’s top goal scorer, Rudzani Ramudzuli, was the winner for the chairman’s award. He went home with a cheque amounting to R30 000. Jabulani Maluleke, the most improved player, was given a cash award of R20 000.

The player who received the biggest cheque during the ceremony was the Mozambican international, Fernando Matola. He won the player of the season award. He was given a cheque of R50 000 for his achievement. The Johannesburg Honeydew supporter’s branch was the winner for the most travelled branch during the 2005/6 soccer season.

The prize for the most organized supporter’s branch went to the Vuwani branch, while Mrs Elizabeth Maringa, better known as “Mrs Heithada”, was the winner of the lifetime award.

The players’ awards ceremony was held in conjunction with the club’s Miss Black Leopards 2006 beauty contest.

During the ceremony, the managing director of the team, Mr David Thidiela, revealed that they have appointed Mr Goddard Kennedy as the new team manager. He also indicated that they were in the process of recruiting a coach for the goalkeepers.

Thidiela thanked the team’s sponsors, MTN, Translux, Umbro, Reris Insurance Brokers, Kanana Bread, Classic Funeral Undertakers and Nissan, for their support during the past seasons. He reiterated the fact that their aim is to bring home some silverware come next season.