Ajax tops at Absa Cup awards
Brad Morgan
21 August 2007
The top performers in the Absa Cup were honoured in Johannesburg on Monday evening, with Ajax Cape Town, the champions of the competition, emerging as the big winners.
Captain Hans Vonk, the former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, was named Player of the Tournament, while Clifford Ngobeni scooped the Nike Most Valuable Young Player award.
Vonk's reward was R250 000, while Ngobeni won a R50 000 contract with Nike. His award followed his recognition as the Jet "Rookie-of-the-Year" for his performances during the 2006/07 PSL season.
Former coach wins
Ajax's coach last season, Muhsin Ertugral, now coach of Kaizer Chiefs, was also a winner, pocketing R30 000 as Coach of the Tournament.
The club won R2 500 000 for winning the tournament. A goal in each half, by wingers Bryce Moon and Franklin Cale, secured a 2-0 win for the Urban Warriors over PSL champions Sundowns in the final at Durban's Absa Stadium in
May.
Ajax's awards came only a day after the side was eliminated from the SAA Supa 8 competition following a 2-0 loss to Orlando Pirates on Athlone Stadium. They will be a pleasant boost to the club which has made a slow start to the 2007/08 season, including losing 1-0 to Bloemfontein Celtic in its first PSL outing.
Celtic's Petros Mahlatsi was well rewarded for his four goals during the competition. They were worth a considerable R62 500 each as he banked the R250 000 awarded to the top goal scorer in the Absa Cup.
The future of the Absa Cup
There was good news about the future of the Absa Cup, which is based on England's famous FA Cup, when Absa confirmed that it will renew its sponsorship of the competition.
It's the only competition that features professional teams and teams from lower divisions and has been running for five years.
With Castle Lager's sponsorship contract with the PSL yet to be renewed, it was welcome
news for South African football.
According to Happy Ntshingila of Absa Group Marketing the sponsorship negotiations will be completed once details concerning the broadcast rights package have been sort out.
The five years of Absa Cup competition have produced a different champion each season. Before Ajax Cape Town, Kaizer Chiefs won the title in 2005/06. SuperSport United took the honours in 2004/05, Moroka Swallows won in 2003/04, and Santos were the first winners in 2002/2003.
Absa Cup Award Winners
Coach of the Tournament Mushin Etrugral
Top Goalscorer Petrus Mahlatsi - four goals
Nike Most Valuable Young Player Clifford Ngobeni
Player of the Tournament Hans Vonk
Best Print Journalism Mninawa Ntloko (Business Day)
Best Photographer Noor Slamdien (Daily Voice)
Best radio Journalist Thabo Kofa (Lesedi FM)
Best TV Journalist Shared bet Tshamano Makhadi and Themba
Jokozela
Dream Journalist The Shoot Team (The Star)
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