Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sipho Ndzuzo, has exclusively through KickOff issued an open letter to the Premier Soccer League slamming the judging in the 2024/2025 PSL Awards.
The 2025 awards have been widely criticised by the public for awarding some awards to not so deserving players.
READ | REVEALED: All the PSL award winners
Ndzuzo's open letter:
Open Letter to the Premier Soccer League: Calling for Transparency and Reform in the PSL Awards
To the Executive Committee of the PSL, Club Owners, Football Stakeholders, Members of the Media, and the South African Football Public.
I write this letter not in protest, but in deep concern—and with hope that we can raise our standards in how we recognize and reward excellence in South African football.
"The recently concluded 2024/25 PSL Awards, while celebrating some deserving players and achievements, have left many fans, analysts, and neutral observers with a sour taste. The decisions—particularly around Coach of the Season, Midfielder of the Season, and the overall lack of transparency—have once again highlighted the urgent need for reform.
What Are We Questioning?
How does Coach of the Season go to someone who joined mid-season, while a coach like Jose Riveiro, who won two major domestic cups, is overlooked?
On what basis was Makhehleni Makhaula named Midfielder of the Season, when other players had stronger statistical and game-changing impacts?
Why are voting criteria and panel members hidden from the public?
Why do club executives and insiders have influence in what should be an independent merit-based process?
Why is data and fan engagement not being used to modernize and verify the awards process?
What We Are Asking For
It is time the PSL commits to a transparent, fair, and credible awards system by:
1. Publishing the criteria and voting breakdowns after each awards ceremony.
2. Disclosing the composition of the voting panel to ensure accountability.
3. Integrating data analytics and season-long performance metrics into the awards process.
4. Allowing fans and verified media to vote through a secure platform with fair weighting.
5. Considering technology-driven solutions (such as blockchain verification or AI-assisted evaluation) to ensure integrity in the process.
Read: In numbers: How Cardoso outclassed Riveiro, Barker
Let’s Celebrate Excellence—Fairly
Football is a game of passion, and the awards are supposed to reflect the best of the best in each season. But when decisions appear political, symbolic, or even biased, the integrity of the awards—and the League—comes into question.
As supporters, we do not demand perfection, but we expect honesty, fairness, and professionalism in how our champions are recognized.
Let us modernize. Let us be transparent. Let us ensure that excellence is rewarded, not negotiated.
Yours in football,
Sipho Ndzuzo
Former Footballer"
