Double Glory: Sundowns Players Dominate SAFJA Awards

DOUBLE GLORY

SUNDOWNS PLAYERS DOMINATE SAFJA AWARDS

Author: Erica Mathye

Mamelodi Sundowns took center stage at the recent South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA) Awards, celebrating a remarkable season with major accolades for both the women’s and men’s teams.

Boitumelo ‘Queen’ Rabale, emerged as the Women's Footballer of the Season, a significant achievement that capped off an extraordinary year for the Lesotho international.

Having narrowly missed out on the award in previous editions, this win marked Rabale’s first SAFJA accolade. Her standout performance during the 2023 season was instrumental in guiding Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies to a historic treble—their fourth consecutive league title, as well as their second CAF Women’s Champions League crown and their second COSAFA title—scoring 24 goals across the three competitions.

As the 2024 season draws to a close, Rabale’s prowess has been undeniable, scoring 16 goals and still in contention for the top scorer award with two games still to be played.

Upon receiving the honor, Rabale expressed her joy and reflected on the teamwork that fueled her success. “I feel happy and honoured to win this award. This recognition means so much to me and it shows that the work I do is noticed. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and coaches, so I would also like to thank them for the support and the teamwork we displayed throughout the season. This one is dedicated to them,” she said.

Rabale wasn’t the only Sundowns star to shine at the SAFJA Awards. Masandawana’s goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, was named the Men’s Footballer of the Season, further underlining the Club’s dominance in South African football.

For Rabale, winning alongside Williams was an added honor. She shared her thoughts on their shared achievement: “I would also like to congratulate Ronwen for being named the Footballer of the Season in the men’s category, he is very deserving. Having both categories won by Mamelodi Sundowns players means that we are heading in the right direction. This also puts a stamp on what the Club is about, which is the winning culture, on and off the pitch.”

This year’s impressive sweep of the SAFJA Awards marks a significant milestone for Mamelodi Sundowns. For the second time in history, both the men’s and women’s top honors have been won by Masandawana players. The first instance occurred in 2020 when Themba Zwane and Rhoda Mulaudzi claimed the inaugural awards. Peter Shalulile and Bambanani Mbane both earned the top awards in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

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These accolades not only reflect the individual talents of Rabale and Williams but also highlight the overall strength and unity of the Mamelodi Sundowns team, which continues to set the standard for excellence in South African football.

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