Source: @Department of Sport, Arts and Culture

The 19th South African Sport Awards at Sun City placed South Africa’s sporting history alongside the achievements of its current generation, with the theme “Crowned by Greatness” reflecting the ceremony’s focus on lasting contribution.

Among the most significant moments was the presentation of the Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket Award to four football figures whose careers were shaped during a very different era of South African sport. 

Nelson “Teenage” Dladla, Mlungisi “Professor” Ngubane, Patson “Sparks” Banda and Martin Cohen were recognised for their contributions to the country’s football heritage.

SA Sports Awards 2026: Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket Award Recipients

Teenage Dladla

Nelson “Teenage” Dladla is one of the defining players of the great Kaizer Chiefs sides of the late 1970s and 1980s. Born in KwaThema in 1954, Dladla joined Chiefs in 1976 after playing for Pilkington Young Brothers and quickly became one of the club’s most recognisable attacking players.

He became synonymous with the number 11 shirt, using acceleration, close control and direct dribbling to unsettle defenders. His hat-trick against Durban City in 1979 helped Chiefs secure the league title, their first in the multi-racial era. Dladla’s finest individual season came in 1981, when he won Footballer of the Year, Datsun Pulsar Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year. He spent the bulk of his career with Chiefs and remains one of the club’s most celebrated legends.

Professor Ngubane

Mlungisi Raphael “Professor” Ngubane was born in Durban in 1956 and developed into one of the most technically gifted midfielders of his generation. His early football came through Umlazi before he progressed to AmaZulu and later established himself as a key figure at Durban Bush Bucks.

Ngubane was renowned for his ball control, passing and dead-ball ability. His extraordinary technical skill included elaborate ball-juggling and an ability to manipulate the ball with either foot, while his free-kicks became one of his most dangerous weapons. He spent many years with Bush Bucks and was central to the team’s strong performances during the 1980s. After his playing career, Ngubane moved into coaching, working with clubs including Bush Bucks, AmaZulu, Maritzburg United, Black Leopards and Thanda Royal Zulu. He later established the Mlungisi Ngubane Foundation, combining football development with education.

Patson Banda

Patson “Sparks” Banda became one of Orlando Pirates‘ most memorable goalkeepers during the club’s powerful teams of the 1970s and 1980s. Banda was known for his athleticism, reflexes and fearless approach between the posts, becoming one of the standout goalkeepers of his generation.

His career was closely linked with Pirates during an era featuring influential players such as Jomo Sono and Chippa Moloi. He was part of the celebrated 1973 Pirates side that defeated AmaZulu 5-2 in the Life Challenge Cup final. Banda was also a familiar figure in the Soweto Derby and played a prominent role in the early history of the rivalry between Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. After retiring, he remained involved in football and continued to speak publicly about goalkeeping and player development.

Martin Cohen

Martin Cohen represents another important chapter in South African football history. Born in Johannesburg in 1952, Cohen came through the Highlands Park system after training with the club from the age of 10. He became a first-team midfielder during the apartheid era and established himself as one of the country’s leading players.

Cohen was named South African Player of the Year in 1975, underlining his standing at a time when the country’s football structure was deeply divided along racial lines. He later moved into the North American Soccer League, joining the Los Angeles Aztecs in 1976. He scored twice in the Aztecs’ 3-1 playoff victory over the Dallas Tornado and subsequently played for California Surf. His career also included spells with Highlands Park and Wits University. Cohen’s career reflects both the quality of South African footballers of that era and the complicated sporting landscape in which they competed.

The recognition also fits into a broader message from Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, who stressed the importance of creating platforms where sporting excellence can be recognised while opening opportunities for young South Africans both on and away from the field.