The coaches have spoken!
A total of 16 Premier Soccer League (PSL) coaches have decided on the nominees for the Footballer of the Season award, worth a whopping R250 000. The winner will be revealed at the PSL awards ceremony in Sandton, Joburg, tonight.
After winning the Absa Premiership championship and the MTN8, Kaizer Chiefs players are expected to dominate the event. They feature in five of the eight Absa Premiership award categories.
Led by captain Tefu Mashamaite and coach Stuart Baxter, Chiefs are the favourites to walk off with silverware. In fact, Mashamaite might well pocket R530 000 this season after being nominated in four categories: MTN8 Last Man Standing, Footballer of the Season, Players’ Player and Defender of the Season.
Footballer of the Season: R250 000
Mashamaite goes head-to-head with team-mate Eric Mathoho and this season’s surprise package, Cole Alexander of Polokwane City. Interestingly, this trio also appears in other categories and could strike it rich at the end of the evening. Not much separates the Chiefs defenders, although Mashamaite does have the edge. He played the full 90 minutes in all matches this season and also delivered the MTN8 for Amakhosi and only received two cautions throughout the season.
Alexander has been a shining light as he helped City stay afloat in the elite league this season.
Looking back at the season that was, Mashamaite is expected to win this award – but he can expect stiff competition from Mathoho.
Players’ Player of the Season: R150 000
Mathoho and Mashamaite were nominated by their peers for this award. They sandwich Mamelodi Sundowns’ Teko Modise.
Best Goalkeeper: R50 000
There have not been many worthy candidates in this category, but Bidvest Wits’ Moeneeb Josephs looks a shoo-in to walk away with the prize after his sterling season. Slim Kat helped the Clever Boys to third place on the log. Fellow nominees Anssi Jaakkola of Ajax Cape Town and Patrick Tignyemb of Bloemfontein Celtic have not had a bad season, but they do not come close to Josephs.
Best Defender: R50 000
Mashamaite goes toe-to-toe with his defensive partner Mathoho once again. The duo have been formidable at the heart of defence and it’s a pity that only one can win. Bidvest Wits captain Thulani Hlatshwayo does not stand a chance against the pair.
Midfielder of the Season: R50 000
Some say this award was made for Modise, who missed out on last year’s awards. But the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder faces stiff competition from Chiefs’ Willard Katsande and City’s Alexander.
Coach of the Season: R75 000
It goes without saying Baxter will win hands down after the excellent season he has had with Amakhosi. Last season’s winner, Pitso Mosimane, and Kosta Papic of City have been added for form’s sake.
Absa-lutely Goal of the Season: R50 000
This is one of the most competitive categories as all three contenders deserve the accolade. Many will remember Menzi Masuku’s individual run and the thunderous strike that stunned Ronwen Williams in SuperSport United’s goal – it was as memorable as Aubrey Ngoma’s and David Zulu’s earlier goals.
Young Player of the Season: R50 000
Ajax Cape Town seem to be getting it right in this category, as their investment in their young players always bears fruit. Two Ajax youngsters – Rivaldo Coetzee and Abbubaker Mobara – deservedly made the cut and will fight it out with Bidvest Wits’ Phumlani Ntshangase