TS Galaxy Queens forward Leandra Smeda walked away with the biggest prize when she was named Player of the Year for the 2025 season at the Hollywoodbets Super League awards held in Johannesburg on Sunday night (1 February 2026).
This was her second award on the night after the 36-year-old scooped the Top Goal Scorer accolade at the glittering event held to honour the stars of the game in the South African elite women’s football league.
Among those who were in attendance were Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Peace Mabe, SASCOC President Barry Hendricks, SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan and his vice Linda Zwane and SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao.
JVW youngster Bonolo Mokoma also left the prestigious event with two trophies – Young Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year – the former being voted for by her peers. 2025 was a great year for the defender-turned-forward who made her first appearance in the elite league and finished second on the goal scorers’ chart with 18 strikes.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach Godfrey Sapula, also in his first rodeo in the Hollywoodbets Super League, was crowned Coach of the Season after leading Banyana ba Style to their record sixth league title.
He faced off strong opposition from former JVW head coach, Janine van Wyk who has since vacated the position after being named the assistant coach at Kristianstad in Sweden; as well as Sizwe Sibiya of TS Galaxy Queens.
Dineo Magagula walked away with the Goalkeeper of the Year, fighting off a strong challenge from 2024 winner Kaylin Swart of JVW and University of Fort Hare’s Kebotseng Moletsane.
In newly introduced categories of Defender and Midfielder of the Season, Sundowns Ladies star Karabo Dhlamini and Jessica Wade of JVW were named the inaugural winners respectively.
Nolitha Msomi is the 2025 Assistant Referee of the Season while Jean Ndebele took the Referee of the Season award.
On the night, six-time league champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies were officially handed their trophy and their prizemoney of two-million-rand (R2M).
Full list of 2025 winners:
- Referee of the Season
Jean Ndebele
- Assistant Referee of the Season
Nolitha Msomi
- Top Goal Scorer of the Season
Leandra Smeda (TS Galaxy Queens)
- Young Player of the Season
Bonolo Mokoma (JVW)
- Goalkeeper of the Season
Dineo Magagula (TS Galaxy Queens)
- Coach of the Season
Godfrey Sapula (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies)
- Midfielder of the Season
Jessica Wade (JVW)
- Defender of the Season
Karabo Dhlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies)
- Players’ Player of the Season
Bonolo Mokoma (JVW)
- Player of the Season
Leandra Smeda (TS Galaxy Queens)
2024 Winners:
Assistant Referee of the Season:
- Rose Mokoena
Referee of the Season:
- Kwandile Somtsai
Young Player of the Season:
- Khwezi Khoza (Durban Ladies)
Top Goal Scorer of the Season:
- Boitumelo Rabale (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies)
Goalkeeper of the Season:
- Matshidiso Masebe (University of Johannesburg)
Players Player of the Season:
- Lebogang Ramalepe (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies)
Coach of the Season:
- Jerry Tshabalala (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies)
Player of the Season:
- Amogelang Motau (University of the Western Cape)
By Matlhomola Morake
