Gift Leremi’s consistency throughout the 2002/2003 Premier Soccer League season earned him the ”Club Together Rookie of the Year” trophy and a cheque for R10 000.
The 18-year-old midfield cum striker from Pimville in Soweto, who plays for Orlando Pirates, was presented with his award at a function that was attended by Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim ”Shakes” Mashaba and Lamontoville Golden Arrows mentor Khabo Zondo among other dignitaries in Johannesburg on Monday.
Leremi, who has already appeared in the colours of the national under-23 team, received the unanimous support of fans throughout the country.
Coincidentally, Leremi took over from former club-mate Mbulelo ”Old John” Mabizela. The former Pirates defender who scooped the same trophy last year, has just left South Africa for England.
Mabizela, who led Pirates to winning the Premier Soccer League season of 2002/3, will turn out for Tottenham Hotspurs this season, the English club that Pirates beat 2-1 recently in the SA 2010 World Cup Bid Challenge game in Durban.
Other nominees for this year’s award were Anthony Baffoe (Ajax Cape Town), Greg Etafa and Adam Ndlovu (both of Moroka Swallows), Morgan Gould and Russel Mwafulirwa (both from Jomo Cosmos), Mabhuti Khanyeza (Lamontville Golden Arrows) and Danny Phama of Dynamos.
Club Together Marketing manager, Prins Mhlanga, expressed satisfaction with the project and its final outcome.
”We have now sponsored the initiative for two seasons and are proud to be able to give recognition to those who enter South African professional soccer for the first season,” he said. – Sapa