AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane has made his pick for the PSL Player of the Season as well as others who deserve accolades at the PSL Awards.
Zwane is himself off a good season with AmaZulu after guiding Usuthu to an impressive sixth place finish in the PSL, having arrived when they were bottom of the table late last year.
The former Kaizer Chiefs coach acknowledges Mamelodi Sundowns playmaker Lucas Ribeiro is the favourite to be crowned the 2024-25 finest but he feels Orlando Pirates youngster Relebohile Mofokeng deserves it more.
“I don’t want to sound controversial, but I think you look at Rele – I think he carried Orlando Pirates,” said Zwane as quoted by iDiski Times.
“You look at Ribeiro. Obviously, Sundowns win the league, so to be quite honest it’s the Ribeiro we know.
Zwane sees Rele shining for Bafana Bafana
“But Rele as a youngster doing what he’s done this past season, carrying a giant on his shoulder, I think it was something else, it was amazing.”
Mofokeng has been central to everything good for Pirates in the just-concluded season when he scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists in 47 games across all competitions as the Buccaneers won the MTN8, reached the Nedbank Cup final, CAF Champions League semi-final and finished second in the PSL.
Zwane is in awe of the 20-year-old, who he feels is going places, and will also play a key role for Bafana Bafana in their upcoming international assignments.
“We need players like him, so others see him performing at this level. And now he’s definitely going to go to the World Cup – I don’t want people to say I’m picking him; I’m not the national coach. But looking at how coach [Hugo] Broos does, and he integrated to the senior national team,” he added.
“For him it was a big jump because he never played for the U20, maybe the previous players, but because he’s an exceptional talent. There is no doubt about he’s gonna make AFCON and the World Cup.”
Jose Riveiro earns from Kaizer Chiefs legend
The Chiefs legend also reserved praise for departed Pirates coach Jose Riveiro for giving youth a chance and letting them flourish.
“Also, credit must be given to their coaches – all those coaches from School of Excellence, Pirates, Jose [Riveiro], Duku Duku Makhanya, who spotted the talent and make life easy for the first team as well to get players promoted,” he added.
“Coach Jose for giving all those players an opportunity. Today the player that scored the equaliser is also from the development, it tells you that South African football is going far.”
Zwane also made his selection for who he feels should be crowned Coach and Midfielder of the Season at the PSL Awards.
“I think, the Mamelodi Sundowns coach, 70% of the season belongs to him, it’s as simple as that – if you win the league, you win Coach of the Season,” Zwane further said.
Who else should be feted at PSL Awards?
“That means you’ve done enough. If Sundowns win the league with so much points, you should give credit to Mamelodi Sundowns technical and the head coach as well, and all the players.
“And maybe the other one would be [Teboho] Mokoena, or [Makhehlene] Makhaula has played very well – when you talk about the Midfielders of the Season.”
Mamelodi Sundowns players swept the PSL Awards last year with Ronwen Williams named Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year, Grant Kekana Defender of the Season and Rulani Mokwena Coach of the Season and the same is expected again this year.
Mofokeng was crowned 2023-24 Young Player of the Year and Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player and could still retain the former.
