Eleven Attackers' FC Player of the Season, Siviwe Madevu, admitted that at first he'd been afraid to play among older players.
He said this on Sunday, during an awards dinner at the City Library Hall, where the team's U15 and U17 soccer awards were presented.
Eleven Attackers' FC Player of the Season, Siviwe Madevu, admitted that at first he'd been afraid to play among older players.
He said this on Sunday, during an awards dinner at the City Library Hall, where the team's U15 and U17 soccer awards were presented.
Awards on offer were the Players' Player of the Season, Most Promising Player, Young Player of the Season, Most Improved Player, Most Disciplined Player, Dedicated Player of the Season, Player of the Season, Goalkeeper of the Season and Top Goal Scorer.
Both U15 and U17s were vying for the same awards. “I am happy to have won the Player of the Season award, because initially I was scared to play for the U17s as a 16-year-old," said Joza youngster Siviwe Madevu after receiving his award. "And the league we were playing in was very tough.”
Arguably the most impressive award on offer, The Players' Player of the Season, went to Litalethu Ralo, who was described as "simply brilliant" by team officials and his teammates.
The senior team captain, who has represented Bay United and Bush Bucks, passed on some words of wisdom to the boys. “Education comes first. Never make the mistake of dropping out, because all footballers have a lifespan and you need to always have something to fall back on in life,” he told the boys.
He also spoke about coming to Grahamstown from the small town of Cala, in the former Transkei. He said he'd been afraid to play for Eleven Attackers FC at first, because expectations had been very high.
The only local club to have three teams representing them, funds for the team are limited – but they nevertheless made their first annual gala dinner a special event for the players and their families.
Eleven Attackers award winners
- Players' Player of the Season – Litalethu Ralo
- Most Promising Player – Mnyakama Siyabonga
- Young Player of the Season – Sonwabile Vellem
- Most Improved Player – Thabang Stoffel and Siyabulela Madolwana
- Most Disciplined Player – Sandisiwe Ngqiyaza
- Most Dedicated Player – Siyathemba Melitafa Player of the Season – Siviwe Mandevu
- Goalkeeper of the Season – Phaphama Pongolo
- Top Goal Scorer – Awethu Nanto
