A night intending to praise local soccer achievers, as well as people who've helped grow sports in Makana, didn't have exactly the desired effect and left a bitter taste in some people's mouths.
Held at the BB Zondani Hall recently, a number of former and current sporting personalities from Grahamstown and SAB Cacadu officials attended the awards ceremony, hosted by the Makana Local Football Association (LFA).
Rhodes University's head of sport Mandla Gagayi and Makana Municipality's sports and recreation officer Jeff Budaza were awarded for developing soccer in Grahamstown.
Bulelani Ndwayana, a boxing trainer, was awarded for developing Makana's youth through sport.
A number of special awards were also handed out, including two Makana LFA jackets that went to Mr Monaheng and Mr Maselwa, both former local footballers and coaches.
Mighty Chiefs coach Anga Ncebetsha was awarded Coach of the Year, but he passed the title on to Budaza, saying he was more deserving.
But many LFA teams didn't attend the event, claiming that they hadn't been told anything about it when the season ended.
Golden Stars coach Siyabonga Masinda was among those who didn't attend. The manner in which the event was organised is not fair to us,” he said. Who was judging the winners of these awards? I have a player which I believe is the top goal scorer.”
Black Stars senior player Bongani Dabuza, who attended the event but was also upset, said he didn't agree that the player who had won the award for best goal-scorer was the rightful winner.
Budaza only responded saying that the award ceremony was the first of its kind and that future award ceremonies would take place at the end of every season.
Goalkeeper of the Season went to Simon Peterson of Makana Rhini United (Maru), while the controversial top goal-scorer award went to Vuyani Skeyi of Mighty Chiefs. The Players' Player of the Year award also went to Skeyi.
One of the top awards of the evening, Player of the Season, went to Maru's Siyabonga Dumiso.
