News that he had received four nominations in the Premier Soccer League annual awards left Tefu Mashamaite with mixed feelings.
"I didn't know how to react when I heard this," the Kaizer Chiefs captain said yesterday, moments after being nominated in four categories - including the prestigious Footballer of the Year - for Sunday's award ceremony in Sandton.
The main reason Mashamaite was left dumbfounded was that he felt the entire Chiefs team performed so exceptionally well in a record-setting Absa Premiership season that perhaps singling out individuals seems unfair.
"I should be happy and honoured about these nominations, but when I take to the field, it's not about me - it's about the team. I never thought of individual accolades. The whole team did well," he said.
Mashamaite, however, is delighted that three of his teammates - defensive partner Mulomowandau Mathoho and midfielders Mandla Masango and George Maluleka also got nominations. "Everyone put in a lot of hard work, and it's really going to be difficult competing with Masango, Maluleka and Mathoho. Any of these awards could go either way."
As captain, he was instrumental in Chiefs reclaiming the championship, playing in every league fixture, and the club conceding just 14 goals.
Meanwhile, Polokwane City midfielder Cole Alexander woke up from an afternoon nap yesterday to find his phone full of messages congratulating him for being a Footballer of the Season nominee.
He will contest the top award with Mathoho and Mashamaite.
"I got the messages as I woke up. I saw the missed calls and the messages on Facebook. I took a moment to breathe and then I went down on my knees to pray.
"I feel like a winner already, even if I do not win it. Credit to my teammates and coach [Kosta Papic]," Alexander said of his nomination.
"Who would have thought that I would have to go all the way to Polokwane for such things to happen? I can't thank God enough."
The winner of the Footballer of the Season award walks away with R250000. - Additional reporting by Tshepang Mailwane
Tefu hails team work
News that he had received four nominations in the Premier Soccer League annual awards left Tefu Mashamaite with mixed feelings.
"I didn't know how to react when I heard this," the Kaizer Chiefs captain said yesterday, moments after being nominated in four categories - including the prestigious Footballer of the Year - for Sunday's award ceremony in Sandton.
The main reason Mashamaite was left dumbfounded was that he felt the entire Chiefs team performed so exceptionally well in a record-setting Absa Premiership season that perhaps singling out individuals seems unfair.
"I should be happy and honoured about these nominations, but when I take to the field, it's not about me - it's about the team. I never thought of individual accolades. The whole team did well," he said.
Mashamaite, however, is delighted that three of his teammates - defensive partner Mulomowandau Mathoho and midfielders Mandla Masango and George Maluleka also got nominations. "Everyone put in a lot of hard work, and it's really going to be difficult competing with Masango, Maluleka and Mathoho. Any of these awards could go either way."
As captain, he was instrumental in Chiefs reclaiming the championship, playing in every league fixture, and the club conceding just 14 goals.
Meanwhile, Polokwane City midfielder Cole Alexander woke up from an afternoon nap yesterday to find his phone full of messages congratulating him for being a Footballer of the Season nominee.
He will contest the top award with Mathoho and Mashamaite.
"I got the messages as I woke up. I saw the missed calls and the messages on Facebook. I took a moment to breathe and then I went down on my knees to pray.
"I feel like a winner already, even if I do not win it. Credit to my teammates and coach [Kosta Papic]," Alexander said of his nomination.
"Who would have thought that I would have to go all the way to Polokwane for such things to happen? I can't thank God enough."
The winner of the Footballer of the Season award walks away with R250000. - Additional reporting by Tshepang Mailwane
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