Kempton Park FC celebrates top players, coaches and managers at annual awards

Kempton Park FC honoured its top junior and senior players, along with coaches and managers, at its annual awards ceremony held on November 14 at the Kempton Park Civic Centre.

Proud parents filled the venue, celebrating their children’s achievements and sharing a memorable evening with the club.

The awards recognised performance, progress, and commitment across all age groups during the 2025 season.

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Junior player of the season went to U9 Premier player Njabulo Sibiya, who said the award came as a surprise but reflected a strong year for both him and his team.

“I was surprised at first, but when I realised I had won, I told myself this was my moment to shine. I didn’t expect it.

“The 2025 season was great, we celebrated a lot of wins, I scored goals, assisted, and our parents supported us throughout,” he said.

The ceremony also highlighted teams that achieved strong league positions, showed consistent improvement, and demonstrated discipline and development throughout the season.

Kempton Park FC fielded 19 junior teams in 2025, nine of which finished within the top five of their divisions. Two teams won their leagues, while another secured second place. The U19 team finished the season as champions in both the SAFA and ELFA leagues.

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Overall senior player of the season was awarded to U19 player Owethu Mkhonto, who said he expected the win because of the hard work he put into developing his game.

“The 2025 season was a journey. At first, I was an average player and not recognised, so I had to work my way up and prove myself. As I found my rhythm and trusted my abilities, I knew I had a chance to be the best player of the season,” Mkhonto said.

The club noted strong progress across many teams, with a record eight sides competing in Premier divisions and four in Division One.

Awards such as these, the club said, help strengthen pride, motivate players and coaches, and celebrate commitment across age groups.

Junior coach of the season was awarded to U8 and U17 coach Sicelo Mkhamazi, who described the recognition as a welcome surprise.

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“It feels great and amazing to win this award, and I’m glad my efforts are being recognised. Coaching the youth is not as simple as people think, it’s tough and very competitive, but it’s also a blessing to work with these boys,” he said.