Orlando Pirates star receives Player of the Season backing

Orlando Pirates forward Relebohile Mofokeng has been termed as PSL Player of the Year material due to his current impressive run of form.

Mofokeng has eight goals and six assists in 28 matches this season, seven of them and five assists coming from his 19 league games.

Most importantly, all of them, including last weekend’s hat-trick against TS Galaxy, the first of his career, have come from his last nine games, igniting debate of whether the Pirates star is currently the best player in the division.

Former Pirates striker Phumudzo Manenzhe has no doubts that Mofokeng has no equals in the PSL at the moment and would easily hand him the Player of the Season award if it were up to him.

Why Manenzhe is backing Mofokeng

“I agree with Matthew [Booth], to say I would go with Rele Mofokeng,” Manenzhe said on SuperSport TV as per KickOff.

“It’s not every week that we see a player getting Man of the Match, having scored three goals. It’s hard to find a hat-trick in the PSL.

“Therefore, I will still say to you, the President (Mofokeng) did so well against TS Galaxy. The way Rele is playing, I would give him the Footballer of the Season Award today. If the season ended today, I would give it to Rele Mofokeng,” added the ex-Pirates forward-turned TV pundit.

Main threat to the Orlando Pirates star

Mofokeng, who has won the PSL Young Player of the Year in the last two seasons, was nominated for the big award last term but lost it to ex-Mamelodi Sundowns star Lucas Ribeiro.

This season, the 21-year-old faces stiff competition from Sundowns striker Iqraam Rayners, who has 10 goals and three assists in the league, but can make his case strong if he outscores him and Pirates pip the Brazilians to the PSL crown.

Pirates currently enjoy a one-point lead over Sundowns in the PSL title chase, having taken their tally to 51 points from 22 matches when they thrashed TS Galaxy 6-0 last weekend, but Miguel Cardoso’s side have played a game less.