Mofokeng named SAFJA Men’s Footballer of the Year
Relebohile Mofokeng has been crowned the South African Football Journalists Association's top male player for 2026, and Leandra Smeda took the women's award.
Bafana Bafana winger Relebohile Mofokeng has been voted the best male player of 2026 by the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA), according to iDiski Times. The 22-year-old, who played for Orlando Pirates last season, has since moved to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
Why Mofokeng won
SAFJA recognised his 2025/26 season at Pirates. Over 36 appearances he scored 11 goals and set up nine more, and the club went on to win a domestic treble.
The SAFJA honour is not his first of the season. At the PSL awards he was already named the overall Footballer of the Season. He also won the players’ choice award and the young player award in the Betway Premiership.
For the SAFJA prize, he finished ahead of three other nominees: Teboho Mokoena, Oswin Appollis and Lebone Seema. iDiski Times described the award as the latest in a career that has taken off since his debut for the Buccaneers.
Women’s award and journalist winners
On the women’s side, Leandra Smeda of TS Galaxy Queens was chosen as SAFJA’s top female footballer for 2026.
SAFJA also honoured media professionals. The winners were:
- Journalist of the Year: Njabulo Ngidi of Media 24, who also took the written category
- Broadcast Journalist of the Year: Mpho Maboi of SuperSport
- Young Journalist of the Year: Kamogelo Motecwane of Sporty TV
- Photojournalist of the Year: Sydney Mahlangu of Backpage Media
Mofokeng’s rise from Pirates to a European club has been one of the more closely followed stories in local football this year, and the SAFJA award adds to a list of honours collected over a single season.
This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.
