Ngwenya, Ouaddou and Leon Set The Early Pace In Betway Premiership Awards

JOHANNESBURG – The opening month of the new Betway Premiership campaign has produced three standout performers, with AmaZulu forward Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya, Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Brayan Leon taking the first monthly honours of the season.

The awards, announced on Tuesday, 8 September, followed a judging process conducted on Monday by a panel of PSL media-accredited journalists who assessed performances during August.

At the centre of the individual awards is 23-year-old Zimbabwe international Ngwenya, whose explosive start to the campaign has put him at the top of the Premiership scoring charts.

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Ngwenya scored five goals in four matches for AmaZulu, helping the Durban club establish itself in fourth place on the early league standings. His form also earned him the Player of the Month award ahead of TS Galaxy’s Victor Letsoalo and Orlando Pirates defender Lebone Seema.

His performances point to a significant early-season shift in the scoring race, with Ngwenya quickly emerging as one of the players defenders will have to contain as the campaign develops.

Ouaddou keeps champions unbeaten

At Orlando Pirates, Ouaddou has wasted little time in building on the success of last season.

The reigning champions opened their title defence with three victories and one draw from their first four matches, earning their coach the August Coach of the Month award.

The recognition is also familiar territory for the Moroccan coach. Ouaddou won the final Betway Premiership Coach of the Month award of the previous season in May, meaning his latest accolade comes as a continuation of the momentum he established at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

The unbeaten opening has given Pirates an early platform in their attempt to defend the league title, while Ouaddou’s consecutive monthly awards underline his influence on the champions’ consistency.

Leon’s volley wins goal of the month

The most spectacular individual moment of the month belonged to Sundowns forward Brayan Leon, whose volley against AmaZulu was judged the best goal of August.

Leon had to overcome stiff competition from his own teammate, Teboho Mokoena, whose free-kick in the same fixture was also nominated, as well as Siwelele FC’s Vincent Pule for his strike against TS Galaxy.

The award places Leon among the early protagonists of a season that has already produced several memorable finishes.

Fans also cash in

The monthly awards have not been limited to players and coaches.

Betway’s S’bonise & Win campaign is continuing into the new season, with supporters also getting an opportunity to walk away with a substantial prize.

As part of celebrations marking 30 years of the PSL, Betway awarded R30 000 to the best-dressed fans at televised home matches during August.

A total of 18 supporters won the R30 000 prizes during the month, with the campaign set to continue throughout the season.

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The initiative adds a supporter-focused dimension to the league’s monthly recognition, extending the rewards beyond the pitch and into the stands.

The August awards were determined by a six-member judging panel comprising SuperSport’s Lerato Phago, who served as convenor, alongside Mazola Molefe of the SABC, Reggie Ndlovu of SuperSport, Simtho Dladla of Ukhozi FM, Neville Khoza of the Sowetan and Smiso Msomi of IOL.

August 2026 Betway Premiership Monthly Award winners

• Player of the Month: Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya, AmaZulu FC
• Coach of the Month: Abdeslam Ouaddou, Orlando Pirates
• Goal of the Month: Brayan Leon, Mamelodi Sundowns

With the season still in its early stages, Ngwenya’s goals, Ouaddou’s unbeaten record and Leon’s eye-catching finishing have already established three different storylines to watch as the Betway Premiership campaign gathers pace.