WITH so much to celebrate, the DP World Lions hosted two Annual Awards celebrations on Saturday, honouring the outstanding performers, contributors, and achievers from across the thriving and interconnected Lions Cricket community.
More than 550 guests gathered across both events, enjoying the company of those who steadfastly and wholeheartedly prowl the Pride lands in pursuit of excellence on and off the field. Music, McCafé, and a magnificent red carpet set the tone for a memorable day filled with excitement, recognition, and celebration.
Hosted on the field at the DP World Wanderers Stadium, the first ceremony placed the spotlight on the Lions Cricket pipeline, rewarding growth, fair play, and achievement across every level of the game while showcasing the strength and depth of the Lions Cricket ecosystem.
The celebrations then rolled on to the DP World Lions Professional Awards, blind cricket and deaf cricket recognising the outstanding performances, dedication, and contributions of players and staff who helped shape another memorable season for The Pride.
Central Gauteng Lions President Dr Earl Glennistor extended his congratulations and gratitude to all those in attendance: “Every individual recognised at today’s Awards has played a meaningful role in another exceptional season for Lions Cricket, consistently going above and beyond in service of both the game and the Lions Cricket brand.
At the beginning of each season, we challenge our people to uphold the highest standards, make a positive impact within the communities we serve, and grow as individuals both on and off the field. We are sincerely grateful for the commitment, passion, and excellence demonstrated throughout the season. These Annual Awards are a reflection of our appreciation for those who have contributed so significantly to the success of Lions Cricket. Congratulations to each and every one of you on your achievements.”
Lions Cricket CEO Jono Leaf-Wright echoed the President, commenting that the Awards serve as a powerful reminder of the passion, commitment, and genuine love for the game that exists throughout the Lions family.
“This is one of my most favourite events of the year because it serves as a heartfelt reminder of this Pride’s loyalty, passion, and unrivalled work ethic in service of the game and our community. Whether as partners, players, staff, volunteers, officials, administrators, coaches, or groundskeepers, I continue to be humbled by the contributions made by every individual who helps drive the Lions Cricket brand forward. Our pipeline has never been stronger than it is today, and to everyone who helps us build from the bottom up, thank you.”
The strength of the club cricket structures was evident throughout the awards programme, with players and teams from the ENZA Premier League, DP World Women’s League and the McDonalds Premier League T20 Challenge all receiving well-deserved recognition for their achievements throughout the season. Over and above the Lions Club Cricket awards, came the Umpires Awards, Scorers Awards, Lions Club Cricket Saturday and Sunday Competitions, Lions Veterans League Winners, Telkom Lions Academy prize winners, Blind and Deaf prize winners, McDonald’s school awards and the Telkom Club of the Year.
Concluding the evening, Lions Cricket CEO Jono Leaf-Wright reflected on the organisation’s continued pursuit of excellence throughout the 25/26 season: “Awards celebrated both our journey and our Legacy of Champions throughout the 2025/26 season.
Through our calls to action of ‘Be the MVP’ and ‘#LoveWhatYouDo’, we challenged every member of the Lions family—staff, players, and officials alike—to create meaningful impact in their respective roles and tonight served as proof that when you truly love what you do, you will deliver loudly and proudly time and time again, and with the high standards of excellence we expect.
Congratulations to all nominees and winners for embodying the values of Passion and Respect, Image, Discipline, and Enjoyment in everything you do. Let us continue serving Lions Cricket with pride, humility, and relentless commitment as we strive for even greater success in the 2026/27 season.”
The DP World Lions Annual Awards once again demonstrated the strength, unity, and ambition that continues to drive Lions Cricket forward, celebrating achievement at every level of the game while inspiring the next generation of players, coaches, officials, administrators, and volunteers.
Full list of Lions Cricket Award winners for 2025/26 season:
Lions Club Cricket Individual Prize Winners:
Enza Premier A League (50 overs) – Batter of the Season: Glen Adams
Enza Premier A League (Timed Cricket) – Batter of the Season: Josh Elliot
Lions Premier B League (50 overs) – Batter of the Season: Deeran Baba
Lions Premier B League (Timed Cricket) – Batter of the Season: Pranav Raichetti
DP World Women’s Premier League – Batter of the Season: Loraine Botha
Enza Premier A League (50 overs) – Bowler of the Season: Zander van der Merwe
Enza Premier A League (Timed Cricket) – Bowler of the Season: Morteza Manack
Lions Premier B League (50 overs) – Bowler of the Season: John Farrell
Lions Premier B League (Timed Cricket) – Bowler of the Season: Tasheen Hanslo
DP World Women’s League – Bowler of the Season: Tyra Sahadew
Enza Premier League – Player of the Season: Glen Adams
Lions Premier League – Player of the Season: Ethan van Dyk
DP World Women’s League – Player of the Season: Loraine Botha
McDonald’s Premier League T20 Challenge – Player of the Match (Final) – Section A (men) : Mitchell van Buuren
McDonald’s Premier League T20 Challenge – Player of the Match (Final) – Section B (men) : Tahseen Hanslo
McDonald’s Premier League T20 Challenge – Premier – Player of the Match (Final) (women): Traci Brest
Telkom Club of the Season: Puntans Hill Sports Club
Fair Play Award: G&M Old Edwardians Cricket Club
Lions Development League (Girls): Pirates Cricket Club
Lions Match Officials Prize Winners:
Umpire’s Awards: Angus Gouws
Scorer’s Awards: Telayne Ollier
Lions Club Cricket Sunday Competition:
Sunday Six: Pirates Cricket Club
Sunday Five: KHOSA Cricket Club
Sunday Four: Riverlea Cricket Club
Sunday Three: Old Lions Cricket Club
Sunday Two: Western Warriors Cricket Club
Sunday One: Old Lions Cricket Club
Presidents League – Section B (50 Overs): Randburg Cricket Club
Presidents League – Section A (50 overs):Old Parktonians Cricket Club
Presidents League – Section B (Time): Jeppe Cricket Club
Presidents League – Section A (Time): Heidelberg Cricket Club
Lions Women’s Promotion League: Joburg Cricket Club
DP World Premier League (Women): Randburg Cricket Club
McDonald’s Premier League T20 Challenge – Premier A (women): Wanderers Chariats Cricket Club
McDonald’s Premier League T20 Challenge – Premier B (men): Wits University Cricket Club
McDonald’s Premier League T20 Challenge – Premier A (men): G&M Old Edwardians Cricket Club
Lions Premier B League – Section B (50 overs): Wits University Cricket Club
Enza Premier A League – Section A (50 overs): Delfos Cricket Club
Lions Premier B League – Section B (Time): Jeppe Cricket Club
Enza Premier A League – Section A (Time): Old Parktonians Cricket Club
Lions Premier B League Overall Winner: Wits University Cricket Club
Enza Premier A League Overall Winner: G&M Old Edwardians Cricket Club
Lions Club Cricket Saturday Competition:
Saturday Five: KHOSA Cricket Club
Saturday Four: Old Parktonians Cricket Club
Saturday Three: Pirates Cricket Club
Saturday Two: Delfos Cricket Club
Saturday One: Puntans Hill Cricket Club
Macrocomm T20 Knockout Cup: Puntans Hill Cricket Club
Lions Veterans League Winners:
Lions Veterans League: Rising Sunsets Cricket Club
Lions Youth Cricket Awards:
Telkom Under 16 Boys Player of the Season: Zizi Mkhize
Telkom Under 16 Girls Player of the Season: Alyssa Edwards
Telkom Under 18 Boys Player of the Season: Armaan Manack
Telkom Under 18 Girls Player of the Season: Diara Ramlakan
Rural Under 17 Player of the Season: Bokamoso Bantjie
McDonald’s Overall Progressive School of the Season – Girls Primary School: Molalatladi Primary School
McDonald’s Overall Progressive School of the Season – Boys Primary School: Rivonia Primary School
McDonald’s Overall Progressive School of the Season – Gils High School: Hoërskool Noordheuwel
McDonald’s Overall Progressive School of the Season – Boys High School: Dr Malan Hoërskool
McDonald’s School of Excellence of the Season – Girls High School: Queens High School
McDonald’s School of Excellence of the Season – Boys High School: Jeppe High School for Boys
McDonald’s School of Excellence of the Season – Girls Primary School: Kenmare Laerskool
McDonald’s School of Excellence of the Season – Boys Primary School: Montrose Primary School
Mini Cricket Coach of the Season: Harmony Ntshinga
Mini Cricket Co-ordinator of the Season: Rebecca Maloka
Lions Rural Cricket:
Batter of the Season: Wikus Botha
Bowler of the Season: Bafana Mthunzi
Player of the Season: Wikus Botha
Telkom Lions Academy Prize Winners:
Batter of the Season: Dylan Nicholas
Bowler of the Season: Zakwan Patel
Telkom Lions Academy Player of the Season: Zakwan Patel
DP World Lions Blind Cricket Prize Winners:
Batter of the Season: Lwande Bhidla
Bowler of the Season: Lwande Bhidla
Most Improved Player of the Season: Sivuyise Gwayi
Player of the Season: Lwande Bhidla
DP World Lions Deaf Cricket Prize Winners:
Batter of the Season: Gareth Harries
Bowler of the Season: Gareth Harries
Fielder of the Season: Geoff Botha
Player of the Season: Gareth Harries
DP World Lions (Women):
Hollywoodbets Pro50 Competition:
– Batter of the Season: Sunette Viljoen-Louw
– Bowler of the Season: Relebohile Mkhize
– Fielder of the Season: Raisibe Ntozakhe
Hollywoodbets Pro20 Competition:
– Batter of the Season: Sunette Viljoen-Louw
– Bowler of the Season: Raisibe Ntozakhe
– Fielder of the Season: Raisibe Ntozakhe
New Comer of the Season: Neo Molefe
Most Improved Player of the Season: Relebohile Mkhize
Fitness Award: Sunette Viljoen-Louw
Player’s Player of the Season: Raisibe Ntozakhe
DP World Lions Player of the Season: Raisibe Ntozakhe
Fan’s Player of the Season: Relebohile Mkhize
DP World Lions (Men):
CSA 4-Day Series:
– Batter of the Season: Connor Esterhuizen
– Bowler of the Season: Wiaan Mulder
– Fielder of the Season: Dominic Hendricks
CSA 1-Day Cup:
– Batter of the Season: Zubayr Hamza
– Bowler of the Season: Nqaba Peter
– Fielder of the Season: Temba Bavuma
CSA T20 Challenge:
– Batter of the Season: Rassie Van Der Dussen
– Bowler of the Season: Evan Jones
– Fielder of the Season: Mitchell van Buuren
New Comer of the Season: Rafeeq Patel
Most Improved Player of the Season: Rafeeq Patel
Fitness Award: Siya Plaatjie
Player’s Player of the Season: Bjorn Fortuin
DP World Lions Player of the Season: Delano Potgieter
Fan’s Player of the Season: Codi Yusuf
Lions Presidential and Legacy Awards:
Presidential Award: Dominic Hendricks
Legacy Award: Redowan Patel
Milestones Awards: 15 Year Service: Dominic Hendricks. 5 Year Service: Lutho Sipamla
First Class: 50 Matches: Delano Potgieter
One Day (List A) : 50 Matches: Mitchell van Buuren; Sunette Viljoen-Louw. 100 Matches: Temba Bavuma
Special Recognition Award – “Call Beyond Duty”:
Beyond the Boundaries: Puntans Hill Sports Club
Hungry Hearts Award: Riverlea Cricket Club
National Representatives (1 May 2024 to 30 April 2025):
Temba Bavuma; Buhle Bhidla (SA Blind); Lwande Bhidla (SA Blind); Isaac Bidla (SA Blind); Corne Botha (SA Colts, SA U19); Geoff Botha (SA Deaf); Tazmin Brits; Fay Cowling; Shani de Jager (SA Deaf); Quinton de Kock; Yasser Ditta (Veterans); Connor Esterhuizen; Jenna Evans; Bjorn Fortuin; Zubayr Hamza; Tahseen Hanslo (SA Colts, SA U19); Gareth Harries (SA Deaf); Reeza Hendricks; Sinalo Jafta; Jimmy Kgamadi; Ayabonga Khaka; Diketso Letlatsa (SA Blind); Doctor Malinga (SA Blind); Armaan Manack (SA U19); Kwena Maphaka; Ombesa Matsha (SA U19); Wade Mcquinn (SA Colts); Karabo Meso (SA U19); Khaalid Moothosamy (Veterans); Wiaan Mulder; Joseph Ndlovu (SA Deaf); Nqaba Peter; Kamogelo Phiri (SA U19); Sivesh Poonsamy-Muthoo (SA Deaf); Delano Potgieter; Kagiso Rabada; Diara Ramlakan (CSA Youth XI); Kgomotso Rapoo; Nik Rhodes (Veterans) ; Ryan Rickelton; Jason Rowles (SA U19); Tumi Sekhukhune; Richard Seletswane; Ashley Sibanda (CSA Youth XI); Nkosana Sibiya (SA U19); Lutho Sipamla; Mark Tessendorff (veterans); Chloe Tryon; Rassie van der Dussen ; Colin Venter (SA Deaf); Codi Yusuf.
National Contracted Players for the 2026/2027 Season:
Temba Bavuma; Tazmin Brits; Sinalo Jafta; Ayabonga Khaka; Kwena Maphaka; Karabo Meso; Wiaan Mulder; Kagiso Rabada; Ryan Rickelton; Tumi Sekhukhune; Chloe Tryon.
Players of National Interest for the 2026/2027 Season:
Connor Esterhuizen; Bjorn Fortuin; Zubayr Hamza; Nqaba Peter; Lutho Sipamla; Codi Yusuf, Gerald Coetzee.
Obituaries:
Donald Mackay-Coghill – 9 May 2025
Andre Manders – 28 June 2025 (Blind Cricket)
Croyden Ashley Jacobs – 6 August 2025 (Riverlea CC)
Kevin McKenzie – 9 May 2026
Pieter Mulder – 30 April 2026
Daniël Rudolph Oberolzer Viljoen – 23 March 2026
Trophy Winners:
Johnny Waite Trophy (Section A) (U19A): King Edward VII School
Johnny Waite Trophy (Section A) (U19B): King Edward VII School
Johnny Waite Trophy (Section A) (U16A): King Edward VII School
Johnny Waite Trophy (Section A) (U15A): St Stithians College
Johnny Waite Trophy (Section B) (U19A): Queens High School
Johnny Waite Trophy (Section B) (U16A):Hoerskool Dr Malan
Johnny Waite Trophy (Section B) (U15A): Hoerskool Monument
Johnny Waite Trophy (Section C) (U19A): Randpark High School
Johnny Waite Trophy (Section C) (U16A): Hoerskool Transvalia
Johnny Waite Trophy (Section D) (U19A): Lions Cricket – South Hub
2025 FAB 4 T20 Blind Cricket Face Off: DP World Lions Blind Team
Inter Provincial Deaf Tournament 2025: DP World Lions Deaf Team
T20 Blind Cricket National Tournament: DP World Lions Blind Team
CSA U18 Boys National Cricket Week: Lions Cricket
CSA U16 Boys National Cricket Week: Lions Cricket
CSA 4-Day Series: DP World Lions
Switch Schools SA20 competition – U19 Boys: Jeppe High School for Boys
Switch Schools SA20 competition – U19 Girls: Queens High School
Gauteng District League: DP World Lions Blind Team
CSA Rural Week: Lions Cricket
BCSA 1 Day Cup: DP World Lions Blind Team
Top Image SLM ( Lions Cricket CEO Jono Leaf-Wright recorded addressing players and guests at the awards ceremony held at Wanderers Stadium pitch on Saturday evening.)
Temba Bavuma; Tazmin Brits; Sinalo Jafta; Ayabonga Khaka; Kwena Maphaka; Karabo Meso; Wiaan Mulder; Kagiso Rabada; Ryan Rickelton; Tumi Sekhukhune; Chloe Tryon.
