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This season could see another defender scooping the best player of the year.
With the curtain coming down on this season’s Absa Premiership campaign on Saturday, it is a good time to take stock of the campaign – and its shining stars.
It’s a tough choice this year, with only a handful of players coming to mind.
It was a challenge to come up with even three deserving individuals, as there was no clearly outstanding or dominant player when compared with previous campaigns.
Kaizer Chiefs captain Tefu Mashamaite is a strong contender for the coveted Player of the Season title. The award has eluded defenders for quite a few years, with the last winning defender being Morgan Gould, who was then at SuperSport United and took the title in the 2009/10 season.
This year, as many as three Chiefs defenders are in line for the award after their outstanding performances, which saw the team concede just 12 goals in 28 matches.
Mashamaite, Eric Mathoho and Tsepo Masilela have been rock solid at the back as they helped Amakhosi wrestle the title back from Sundowns.
Mashamaite held the Chiefs back four together and his goal earned them the MTN8 Cup earlier in the season.
It is a different story with Sundowns midfielder Teko Modise, who has been outstanding for the Tshwane side and has seven league goals.
Polokwane City’s Cole Alexander dished out splendid performances with the Limpopo side. His team might not be among the best in the league, but he made his mark, scoring four goals in the process.
Stuart Baxter is tipped to walk away with Coach of the Season after guiding Amakhosi to their second title in three seasons. He also won the MTN8.
Under the Englishman, Chiefs lost only twice in 28 matches and conceded the lowest tally of goals this season. They have also broken the record for the most points achieved in a 16-team season – 65 – set by Mamelodi Sundowns last season.
Amakhosi are on 66 and are targeting 72, the maximum they can achieve if they win their two remaining fixtures against Wits (at home) and Chippa United (away).
A few of the other contenders who come to mind are easily discounted due to their inconsistency during the season.
These are the likes of Orlando Pirates’ Issa Sarr, Sundowns captain Alje Schut and the Chiefs duo of Mandla Masango and George Lebese.
However, as in any award ceremony, there are likely to be shocks and surprises in store.
NB: TELL US: Who is your choice for the PSL’s best player?
