Several Mamelodi Sundowns players have been doing well this season both in the Premier Soccer League and in international matches.
With a couple of matches remaining before the league concludes, it will not be surprising to see the likes of the goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, defender Khuliso Mudau, Iqraam Rainers, and Lucas Ribeiro making the list for the Player of the Season Award.
Rayners has so far managed to score 12 goals in the league, with nine assists, while Lucas Ribeiro has scored 13 goals and created seven goals. Despite the former Stellenbosch attacker getting directly involved in 21 goals, one more than the South American, coach Miguel Cardoso has made his choice.
He believes Riveiro should be given the award because everything works to his favour when compared with his rivals, despite going five PSL games without a goal.
Ribeiro has helped Masandawana a lot
“He will probably be elected Player of the Season with the stats he has, the numbers he has this season are amazing, on goals and assists, and quality action, I think he’s a player that brings something different to the pitch,” he responded when asked about the player.
“I’m happy to have him, and [him on the bench] was literally a question of managing [his minutes] and I think now that people are choosing Player of the Season, makes him want to show something he doesn’t need to show. He’s shown already a lot of times, that will come naturally [his form returning], for sure.
“If we see the goals he’s scored, the beautiful goals he scored, the moments he’s carried the team forward, it’s a team that promotes a player, but also Lucas had moments where he helped the team a lot,” he explained. For me, he is the favourite candidate, I don’t see anyone expressing the level as Lucas did for so long, and even in the previous year.
“It’s important to say, we relate to this season, but he’s been consistent in the last years and he’s brought, expressed things very difficult to see, that have to do with the work of the team but also due to his own capacity. I will be very happy [if he wins it] because it’s completely fair if he becomes the player of the season,” Cardoso concluded.
Since joining Sundowns, Ribeiro played 81 goals across all competitions with a return of 32 goals and 20 assists.
