In just a few weeks, the PSL footballer of the season will be crowned and there are a few players who have raised their hands for the award. Soccer Laduma spoke to three individuals to find out who they think should win the big prize at the end of the season.
Mamelodi Sundowns has a few players who have been consistent and have been mentioned as possible candidates, such as Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena, while Orlando Pirates' Monnapule Saleng has arguably been the club's best player in this campaign. Here are three individuals who pick their favourite to win the award.
Jackson Mabokgwane - Black Leopards goalkeeper
It's a bit of a difficult one, because the season ended too early. Sometimes that makes it tricky. You find a Sundowns team that is playing five or six games where they are not really playing for anything, if you know what I mean, because they are already champions. For me, Themba Zwane has been consistent. If you look at Sundowns without Zwane, they struggle. It has been proven many times. He has does not score many, but he assists and makes the team tick. He is a Ronaldinho type of player. With him on the pitch, anything can happen on the pitch. We don't praise our own enough. He is a special talent. Another thing is that he has gotten himself back into Bafana Bafana, which shows how well he has done. He has been given the responsibility of being captain at Sundowns, so for me I think it's Themba Zwane with the overall performance and consistency throughout the season. Then there are other guys who come behind him like Saleng, Williams and the young Cassius (Mailula). But for me, Zwane is the one.
Phetso Maphanga - former Swallows FC Orlando Pirates player
For me, I think the player of the season is Teboho Mokoena, He has been consistent and has played in almost every game for Sundowns and they are making him captain in some of the games. He has been pushing. His game has grown a lot. You must remember at Sundowns there is a lot of competition, but he has pulled through and he is playing regularly. I think credit should go to the three coaches - coach Rulani (Mokwena), coach Steve (Komphela) and coach Manqoba (Mngqithi). They have done a great job on him and you can see now that he is a leader.
Diego Brown - former Chippa United Stellenbosch FC winger
I'd say Yusuf Maart. Reason being that Maart has been outstanding for me this season. I think sometimes they (Chiefs) have let their fans down, but when you look at individual performances, I have always seen the same performances from Maart. He is very consistent and hard working. He is an honest guy on the pitch because he gives his all. There are times when he captains the team and I see an even different player in him. For me, overall, Maart would be my footballer of the season. He is one of the most consistent performers for Chiefs and he is one guy you can count on to lead and go out there to give you those big performances. He is always the one who will stand out when the team wins or loses. He is always involved.
