Bafana Bafana stars fronted for massive PSL Award after excellent run in South African top-tier campaign

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Dikgang Mabalane insists PSL duo Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis have done enough to deserve the Footballer of the Season Award.

Mofokeng managed 10 goals and a further eight assists in the 27 Premier Soccer League outings. His compatriot delivered nine strikes as well as six assists in the 30 appearances he made as the Sea Robbers won the title for the first time in 14 years.

There have been sharply divided opinions on who should be crowned when the Awards Gala is held. A section feels the 21-year-old Mofokeng deserves it, while others have seconded the former Polokwane City attacker.

You have to back your arguments with numbers!

“Look, especially these days, you have to back your argument with the numbers, and if you can’t have one without the other,” Mabalane argued as reported by SABC Sport.

“You know, yes, you might have the other factors, but people these days want numbers, so, I’ve also looked at that with Mofokeng and Appollis and the fact that Pirates are the league winners. 

“So, we’ll always compare football at the highest level, players that are competing at the highest level, their influence, and their contribution at the highest level, and that’s the bar that we set when we analyse these players.” 

Is it Rele or Appollis?

So Rele and Appollis, you look at how they contributed to the club. We talk about Appollis, I mean, he can be consistent and influential in the game. It’s not hidden but evident. It’s out there for everyone to see his contribution,” the ‘Terminator’ added. 

“You don’t have to look for him in a game. He’s always there, he’s always making an impact whenever he plays, he contributes in Pirates winning games. Then there’s Rele who does the same and he adds the numbers because he’s got the goals, you know.  So those two players, I think it’ll be very close.

“If we include other factors because I don’t like to focus on one, you know. One point or one dimension when we assess players, I like to include everything.  

“There’s also character, there’s also confidence, there’s also the impact that he has made in the team, that’s besides the numbers. But those two, they’ll be close contenders for the Player of the Season,” Mabalane concluded.