PANDULENI Nekundi, Dynamo Fredericks, and Marcel Papama have been shortlisted in both the MTC Premiership Player of the Season and Player’s Player of the Season categories at the MTC Premiership Awards Ceremony which takes place on Friday.
The three players are the finalists in both categories after being selected by the coaches, the captains and players of the 16 NPL clubs.
Striker Nekundi will definitely win the Top Goal scorer of the Season award after finishing as the top goal scorer with 15 goals, just ahead of Tura Magic’s Itamunua Keimuine on 14 goals. Nekundi will receive N$15 000 for this award.
Nekundi’s sharp shooting played a major role in the success of his club, African Stars this season, after they won the league and the cup double.
Nekundi also broke into the national Brave Warriors squad and helped them reach the quarterfinals of the Chan Cup in Morocco in February.
Central midfielder Fredericks was Black Africa’s midfield general and helped his club to finish second on the log.
He also played a big role in the recent success of the Brave Warriors having already established himself in the squad two years ago.
Midfielder Marcel Papama burst onto the scene this season with some great performances for his team Unam. He helped them finish fourth on the log, while they also reached the Debmarine Namibia Cup final before losing 1-0 to African Stars. Papama’s fine form on the domestic front saw him being called up to the Brave Warriors squad for the first time this season.
The Player of the Season award amounts to N$30 000, while the Players’ Player of the Season award amounts to N$20 000.
The coaches of the 16 NPL teams selected the Player of the Season finalists, while the captains and players of the 16 NPL clubs selected the Players’ Player of the Season finalists.
The finalists in the Coach of the Season award, which carries a winning prize of N$20 000, are Bobby Samaria of African Stars, Gerhard Hengari of Mighty Gunners, who finished third; and Maleagi Ngarizemo of Young African, who finished fifth.
The 16 coaches in the NPL voted for the coach of the season.
The finalists for the Referee of the Season, which carries prize money of N$10 000 are Jackson Pavaza and Willem Haitembu, both of Otjozondjupa region, and Nehemia Shooveleka of Ohangwena region.
The finalists for the Assistant Referee of the Season, which carries prize money of N$5 000 are Matheus Nevonga of Hardap region, Sem Singeve of Otjozondjupa region and Eneas Shikongo of Khomas region.
Besides these awards there will also be the Chairman’s Award amounting to N$30 000, which is decided by the NPL chairman and is awarded to any individual or institution that has served football in an exemplary fashion.
At a press conference on Monday, the administrator of the Namibia Premier League, Tovey Hoebeb said the total prize money for this year’s NPL will amount to about N$2,2 million.
The league winners African Stars will receive N$1 million; the runners-up Black Africa will receive N$600 000; the third placed Mighty Gunners will receive N$300 000; and the fourth-placed Young African will receive N$100 000.
The MTC Premiership Awards Ceremony will be held at the Safari Hotel, starting at 18h00 on Friday, 1 June.
