The top eight competition in South Africa’s domestic football has been around in many guises since it was first played in 1972, but in the last 15 years it has been played under the banner of the MTN8.
With a handsome first prize on R8-million on the line for the winner, and just R800 000 on offer to the other seven competing clubs, the difference between success and failure is stark.
Teams play just four games before lifting the trophy, but in that short space of time there has still been opportunity for plenty of heroic performances to win the MTN8 Last Man Standing accolade for the leading star in the tournament.
MTN FC looks back at the winners of that prize since 2008 and what they went on to achieve.
2008
GERT SCHALKWYK (KAIZER CHIEFS) )
Things did not always go to plan for Schalkwyk in his Premier Soccer League career, but on his day could be a devastating talent.
And he showed all his qualities in the 2008 MTN8, helping Chiefs to lift the trophy as he pulled the strings in midfield, and chipped in with some crucial goals too.
He would finish the campaign as top-scorer with three goals, but it was also his artistry in creating chances for others that caught the eye.
This was about as good as it for Schalkwyk, who later played for Orlando Pirates Bloemfontein Celtic and Maritzburg United, but never really fulfilled his enormous potential.
2009
NJABULO MANQANA (LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS) )
Manqana was a richly deserving winner of the Last Man Standing prize in the 2009 MTN8 season, but in truth there were any number of Lamontville Golden Arrows player who could have picked up the award.
Manqana’s performance in the final swung it for him as he tore Ajax Cape Town to shreds with two goals himself and a sparkling display to set up teammates.
It was most certainly a career highlight for a player who spent seven-and-a-half seasons at Golden Arrows, before a brief stay at Orlando Pirates in the 2011/12 campaign.
He later went to AmaZulu for a couple of years and finished his professional career to Royal Eagles in the National First Division in 2014/15.
2010
SIYABONGA NOMVETHE (MOROKA SWALLOWS) )
Striker Nomvethe was already at veteran status by the time the 2010 MTN8 came along, but continued to show his quality as he grabbed the best player prize.
He is in fact the only Last Man Standing to date who has taken the title despite his side not winning the competition, which showed the influence he had on his Swallows team.
His three goals saw him top the scorers list, but in the end he could not take his club to victory.
He remained in professional football right up to the age of 42, later playing for AmaZulu and Uthongathi, and was assistant coach at 2022 finalists Usuthu.
2011
OUPA MANYISA (ORLANDO PIRATES) )
Manyisa had established himself as an Orlando Pirates regular the season before, but truly blossomed in the 2011/12 campaign and has been a virtual ever-present since, barring spells out with injury.
He played every minute of Pirates’ 2011 MTN8 campaign, and netted vital goals in both the semifinal against Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as the winner in the final against Kaizer Chiefs. He only netted three goals all season but found the MTN8 to his liking.
He spent nine seasons with Pirates after making his debut in August 2008, but later spent three unsuccessful years at Mamelodi Sundowns, and had a very brief spell at Chippa United before moving to Platinum City Rovers.
2012
LERATO CHABANGU (MOROKA SWALLOWS) )
Chabangu was an enigma if ever there was one in South African football, a player packed with talent who could blow incredibly hot or bitterly cold.
This was one of his better competition as he led Swallows to the title with some masterful displays as the playmaker in the side.
He scored against AmaZulu in the quarterfinals, and then netted a brace in the thrilling 3-2 victory over former side Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg of the semifinals. He played for Swallows until the 2014/15 season and later had a brief spell with Chippa United.
2013
ROBERT NG’AMBI (PLATINUM STARS) )
Ng’ambi was always a useful performer for the now defunct Platinum Stars and showed his worth in the MTN8 this year as his goals led the side to the title.
He managed a brace in the second leg of their semifinal against BidVest Wits and netted again in the final against Orlando Pirates as the match went to penalties. Stars triumphed 3-1.
Ng’ambi is one of the more underrated players in the PSL all through his career, which included 15 seasons, starting and finishing at Black Leopards, with seven years at Stars. He also helped them to the Telkom Knockout this same season where they again beat Pirates in the final.
2014
GEORGE MALULEKA (KAIZER CHIEFS) )
Maluleka did not have the happiest of times at Kaizer Chiefs but soon after arriving at the club was the driving force behind their 2014 MTN8 victory.
He was excellent in the semifinals against champions Platinum Stars, scoring a brace in the semifinals as Chiefs won 2-0, and adding another in the second leg that finished 3-0 in favour of the AmaKhosi.
He did not net in the final, but was the leading scorer that year, arguably the highlight of his time in gold and black. He has since moved on to play for Mamelodi Sundowns and current club AmaZulu.
2015
CECIL LOLO (AJAX CAPE TOWN) )
The Ajax Cape Town fullback was posthumously awarded the MTN8 Last Man Standing award for the 2015 tournament having perished in a car accident just months after helping the Urban Warriors to the title.
He was fully deserving of the accolade, having been superb in Ajax’s run to the title in which they conceded just a single goal in their four matches.
Lolo was a fine defender, but also a player who enjoyed joining the attack and was an integral part of the team at the time of his death aged 27 on October 25, 2015.
2016
DAINE KLATE (BIDVEST WITS) )
Veteran winger Klate was the hero of the final for BidVest Wits against Mamelodi Sundowns but played a fine hand in the semifinals too as The Clever Boys overwhelmed Cape Town City in their first leg.
Klate is a man for the big occasion, as he has proven through his trophy-laden career and came up trumps again in the decider.
His goal after 30 seconds set the tone for Wits, and he also ended the game as a contest with another in the second half. Klate also won the MTN8 with Orlando Pirates in 2011, and the SAA Supa8 with SuperSport United in 2004.
He last played in 2019 and has become a coach, enjoying a brief spell leading Chippa United in the DStv Premiership last season.
2017
RONWEN WILLIAMS (SUPERSPORT UNITED) )
The former SuperSport United goalkeeper was superb all through the competition, including in the final when he first kept opponents Cape Town City at bay with a number of excellent saves, and then excelled in the shoot-out.
He saved penalties from Lyle Lakay and Judas Moseamedi as SuperSport went onto to lift the trophy under new coach Eric Tinkler, who months before had left City.
He remained a stalwart of the Matsatsantsa side, making a club record 370 appearances, before leaving for Sundowns last season. He has established himself as the Bafana Bafana No 1.
2018
PETER LEEUWENBURGH (CAPE TOWN CITY) )
The second year in a row that a goalkeeper took home the top prize, but this one was also richly deserved as well,
Dutch keeper Leeuwenburgh had only been at the club a matter of a few months when he led the side to a shoot-out win in the final as the side gained some revenge over SuperSport United for the loss the season before.
Leeuwenburgh kept a clean sheet and then saved from Bradley Grobler and Reneilwe Letsholonyane in the shoot-out. He left the club for Dutch side Groningen in 2021 after a successful stay in the PSL, but after being an virtual ever-present in his first season, the 29-year-old barely featured in the 2022/23 campaign.
2019
BRADLEY GROBLER (SUPERSPORT UNITED) )
Grobler’s teammate Thamsanqa Gabuza was actually the leading scorer in the competition as SuperSport regained their MTN8 title with three goals.
But Grobler netted two, including in the 1-0 final win over Highlands Park and walked away with the individual prize for his all-round contribution.
Hekept up that form and was the leading scorer in the DStv Premiership in 2020/21 with 16 goals, before an injury-ravaged next campaign.
He remains a key figure for SuperSport and has since taken over as the leading scorer in the club’s history with He has scored a record 74 goals for the Tshwane-based side.
2020
DEON HOTTO (ORLANDO PIRATES) )
Hotto was in blistering form as he helped Orlando Pirates end their six-year wait for a trophy in 2020.
He only managed one goal, in the 2-1 final victory over Bloemfontein Celtic, but his pace and direct style caused all sort of problems, not least in the 5-0 aggregate semifinal win over Kaizer Chiefs.
He had his best scoring season in South Africa in 2021/22 with nine goals in all competitions and continues to be an important player for the team under coach Jose Riveiro.
2021
ANDILE JALI (MAMELODI SUNDOWNS) )
Veteran midfielder Jali was deservedly given the award for his stellar displays in helping Sundowns to the title with a penalty shoot-out win over Cape Town City in the final.
He had seen something of a renaissance late in his career and the 2021/22 campaign was one of his best in the PSL as Sundowns swept all before them. Since then he was less influential and recently signed for Moroka Swallows.
The 33-year-old also helped former side Pirates to the 2010 and 2021 MTN8 titles, before leaving for Belgian side Oostende in 2014, where he spent four mixed years.
He will go down as one of the best PSL players of his generation, but like with so many, there may also be nagging doubts over whether he ever truly reached his potential given his outstanding talent.
2022
MONNAPULE SALENG (ORLANDO PIRATES)
Saleng was a revelation for Pirates last season and a driving force behind them regaining the MTN8 title with victory over AmaZulu in the final, scoring the winner in the decider and three goals in all.
The winger had a dream campaign and it is no wonder he is drawing interest from abroad. Quite remarkably, he was involved in 19 of Pirates’ 40 goals in the league, a statistic made more incredible by the fact he only started in 18 games (to go with four sub appearances).
Whether it was scoring or providing assists, he was a constant threat for the opposition and Pirates will be desperate to hold onto his services as they push for the MTN8 again this season.
){kind=link}
