East London Central LFA honours season’s achievers

Devereaux (Merchants) scoops Anthony Augustine Life Time Achievement Award for Football Excellence; tribute paid to late Peter Saville

The East London Central Local Football Association (LFA) hosted its ninth end-of-year Fifa World Cup-themed prize-giving ceremony at the Wayne Reed Civic Centre.

The association marked the occasion by paying tribute to the late ex-parkside United, Border and SA Federation legend Peter Saville, whom it honoured in 2021 with the Anthony Augustine Life Time Achievement Award for Football Excellence.

And on the night, Merchants, Border and SA Federation Football legend Keith Devereaux became the 26th recipient of this prestigious award for 2022.

Merchants club secretary Brendan Hendricks accepted the award from the association’s honorary life president, Zola Dunywa, on behalf of Devereaux, who was unable to attend.

BCM Sports Confederation vice-president Mzukisi Makasi was the honorary guest speaker and delivered an inspiring speech.

One of the highlights of the evening was the announcement of the lucrative Premium Bakeries-sponsored awards for the association’s women’s football. Riverside scooped three individual awards, which included the Shane Benny Memorial Under-14 and the Derrick Postman Memorial Youth Player of the Year prized silverware that was awarded to sensational teenage striker Kungawo Ntlaka.

The Rodney Williams Memorial Club Administrator of the Year recipient was Riverside’s vice-president and club treasurer, Selwyn Morrisson.

The Riverside blue train has now won a record 26 individual awards.

Leeds United, their nearest challengers, secured 16 individual pieces of silverware. Bev Cole received the Special Recipient Award for Outstanding Services.

Future Stars lifted two individual awards. Golden Arrows-bound Ibanathi Kobo was voted the Caro Jo Adams Memorial Under-18 Player of the Year and Maritzburg United’s new signing Milani Lorch Buyaph was named the Subie Pillay Memorial Senior Young Player of the Year.

Millan and Future Boys also won two individual awards with Millan voted the Youth Club of the Year for the second consecutive season.

FC East London club supremo Siyabulele Vunati was voted the Janesh Rama Club Coach of the Year and Napoli midfield dynamo Lukhanyiso Fali lifted the Byron Klaasen Senior Player of the Year award.

Seagulls won the Alfonso Del Fava Senior Club of the Year award for a record fifth time, while the Eugene Adams Women’s Match Official of the Year trophy winner Freddie Cochran became the first person to win four East London Central LFA individual awards.

Female Football Special Award recipient Evril Adams is the fourth person to win three individual awards over the past nine seasons.

Leeds Utd, Atletico (Leeyogen Saville Under-16) and Pride of India (Franciline Jacobs) each won one individual award and the association’s Under-14 squad was voted the 2022 Rufus Dzingwa Top East London Central LFA Representative Squad. The award winners were: Junior Players of the Year Under-10: Lingombo Nkumanda (Millan);

Under-12: Dante Doyle (Future Boys)

Under-14: Kungawo Ntlaka (Riverside)

Under-16: Leeyogen Saville (Atletico)

Under-18: Ibanathi Kobo (Future Stars)

Youth Player of the Year Under-14: Kungawo Ntlaka (Riverside)

Senior Young Player of the Year

Milani Lorch Buyaphi (Future Stars)

Senior Player of the Year Lukhanyiso Fali (Napoli) Special Award for Football Excellence

East London Central LFA match officials: Freddie Cochran, Evril Adams, Nkosinathi Quamgana, Siya Ntoni, Liam Lenders, Charlene Smith, Nicky Fortuin, Lulamile, James Gosling, Gugulethu Diyali, Tyron Lucas, Siyabonga Tsengiwe, Abiodun John Adeniran, Samuel Harris

Development Match Official of the Year Gugulethu Dilayi

Most Dedicated Match Official of the Year

James Gosling

Match Official of the Year Freddie Cochran Junior Manager/coach of the Year

Sizwe Satula (Future Boys) Senior Manager/coach of the Year

Siyabulele Vunati (FC East London)

Club Administrator of the Year

Selwyn Morrisson (Riverside)

Award for Outstanding Services

Bev Cole (Leeds Utd, Parent Committee), Francilina Jacobs (Pride of India, Under-8 Academy)

Presidents Award Darian Hendricks (director of the East London Central LFA’S Under-8 Football Academy) Junior Club of the Year Millan FC

Senior Club of the Year Seagulls FC

Female Footballer of the Year

Endinako Njengele (Mzomhle HS)

Match Official Awards Freddie Cochran, Evril Adams and Nkosinathi Quamgana.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Keith Devereux (Merchants) Squad of the Year

East London Central LFA Under-14 squad

Special Award Caroline Booysen and Michelle Booysen