With the debate on who should win PSL Coach of the Season award for the 2024/25 season, former Upington City and Moroka Swallows coach Brandon Truter has revealed where he stands.
Under normal circumstances, the Coach of the Season accolade is used to be given to a mentor who has won the league title.
After Mamelodi Sundowns won the Betway Premiership for the eighth consecutive season, there is arguments on whether their head coach Miguel Cardoso deserves it, as he joined the Brazilians with the campaign already underway in December last year.
Under normal circumstances, the Coach of the Season accolade is used to be given to a mentor who has won the league title.
After Mamelodi Sundowns won the Betway Premiership for the eighth consecutive season, there is arguments on whether their head coach Miguel Cardoso deserves it, as he joined the Brazilians with the campaign already underway in December last year.
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Another contender is former Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro, who has been commended by some pundits for giving Sundowns contest for at least over half a season, to finish second for a third year running, given the resources that he had at his disposal, compared to Masandawana, won the MTN8 and reached the final of the Nedbank Cup.
For Truter, however, who has managed the likes of AmaZulu and Sekhukhune United in the PSL, Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker stood out for him.
Stellies finished third in the Betway Premiership log for the second year running and reached the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup.
"Steve Barker, the reason is he's the longest serving coach at one club in Africa! He's competing now on a regular basis, top three, top four," Truter opened up to Soccer Laduma.
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The former Usuthu mentor argued that The Maroons selling top players such as Iqraam Rayners, Deano Van Rooyen and Jayden Adams and still manage to maintain a third place finish in the same season deserves recognition.
"He was in CAF now, selling (good) players and replacing them with some very good signings and has produced some good youngsters from the development.
"Over the years he has brought stability to that club. He's been outstanding in what coaches want; longevity, stability and structure like that. Steve stands out for me," Truter argued.
At the end of the 2021/22 season, former AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy upset ex-Sundowns co-coaches Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi, who had won the league title, to clinch the Coach of the Season award, after he guided the KwaZulu-Natal side to a second place finish.
The former Usuthu mentor argued that The Maroons selling top players such as Iqraam Rayners, Deano Van Rooyen and Jayden Adams and still manage to maintain a third place finish in the same season deserves recognition.
"He was in CAF now, selling (good) players and replacing them with some very good signings and has produced some good youngsters from the development.
"Over the years he has brought stability to that club. He's been outstanding in what coaches want; longevity, stability and structure like that. Steve stands out for me," Truter argued.
At the end of the 2021/22 season, former AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy upset ex-Sundowns co-coaches Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi, who had won the league title, to clinch the Coach of the Season award, after he guided the KwaZulu-Natal side to a second place finish.
Image via PSL.co.za
