21 January 2019, by: Ben Dlamini

Who Are the PSL Player of the Year Candidates?

It’s been a rollercoaster season in the Absa Premiership with plenty of joy and excitement to keep up the league’s reputation of being one of the best divisions in Africa. With all the great pleasure that the league has produced thus far, there’s been just as much of surprises that have come with it too.

Thembinkosi Lorch was the standout player last term, claiming the biggest individual accolade, the Absa Premiership Player of the Season award. This season hasn’t been as fruitful for the Orlando Pirates playmaker after he scored his first goal of the campaign this past weekend as Bucs claimed a 3-1 win over Highlands Park.

Here, we take a look at who could potentially dethrone Lorch as the Player of the Season, kick-starting with one of his Orlando Pirates teammates:

It’s been an indifferent season for the Buccaneers this term with the Soweto-based giants going through no less than three head coaches this season. After Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic packed his bags for a gig in Egypt, Rhulani Mokwena failed to live up to the hype which saw him steal the limelight while assistant coach at Pirates. Now, with German tactician, Josef Zinnbauer, at the helm, last year’s runners-up seem to be on their way.

During their struggles, Bucs needed one of their big players to step up and steer the ship in the direction they wanted to be, and with Lorch struggling for form, Gabadinho Mhango became that man.

The Malawian international is currently the league’s leading goalscorer with 12 goals to his name from just 12 starts, coming off the bench on four occasions. Mhango has one assist to his name as well, making him the player involved in the most goals this term. If anybody at Pirates is going to win the Absa Premiership Player of the Season award, it’s certainly going to be Mhango.

Orlando Pirates haven’t had a player finish as top scorer in the #AbsaPrem since the late Lesley Manyathela bagged 18 goals in the 2002/03 season…

Gabadinho Mhango’s got 11 now though, and he’s out to change that. ☠️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Tu2cemUsy4

— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) January 15, 2020

Kaizer Chiefs have had a near-perfect season to date and boast a healthy lead at the top of the table. Few could pick out faults in their play under Ernst Middendorp, while they also had to prove that they’re not a one-man team, with Khama Billiat failing to step up and be the club’s go-to man in attack. Despite the Zimbabwean failing to be at his best this season, Amakhosi are still the team with the most goals this campaign, mostly due to the form of Samir Nurkovic.

Coming from Europe with no experience in Africa, few would have imagined things would go so smoothly for Nurkovic. After his goal against Black Leopards last weekend, the Serbian marksman moved up to second in the scoring charts, taking his tally into double figures with 10 goals. If the league were to end now, Nurkovic would be a strong contender to claim the Player of the Season award.

? Kaizer Chiefs have now scored 20 goals from set-piece situations in the #AbsaPrem this season.

? Another bullet header from Samir Nurkovic.pic.twitter.com/mC5UbFDOvB

— BET.co.za (@betcoza) January 18, 2020

It hasn’t been all about attacking for Kaizer Chiefs this season, with the Glamour Boys boasting one of the meanest defences in the league this term. At the heart of their backline has been stalwart, Eric Mathoho, who many wrote off as a player past his best. With seven clean sheets to his name and four goals under his belt, Mathoho has stood out as one of the best defenders this season, and overall, one of the best players in the division.

‘Tower’ will certainly help Kaizer Chiefs keep more clean sheets this season, while a few more important goals for Middendorp’s men cannot be ruled out as well. Should Chiefs win the league, Mathoho will have an even stronger chance of claiming the prestigious award.

?‍♂️ Longest trophy drought in years
? Sensational start to the season
? Eric Matoho in the spotlight
? Most Telkom Knockout titles@KaizerChiefs head into this weekend’s #TKO2019 Soweto Derby in a very good space ? pic.twitter.com/ZhpukpgQ85

— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) October 31, 2019

It’s been a season to forget for AmaZulu, but one bright spark for Usuthu has been star-striker, Bongi Ntuli. Giving the Player of the Season accolade to a player who is at a club fighting relegation seems highly unlikely, but looking at Ntuli’s numbers and his contribution for the Durban-based side makes him a strong contender.

AmaZulu, overall, have only scored 11 goals all season, with Ntuli netting 10 of those – undoubtedly standing out as the club’s best player. Simply put: if you stop Ntuli, you stop AmaZulu. He’s been that key for them this campaign. If Ntuli can replicate his form in the second half of the season, perhaps he could reach as many as 20 league goals, which will surely ensure AmaZulu’s safety.

10 – Bongi Ntuli is just the second @OfficialPSL player to reach 10 goals in the #AbsaPrem this season (after Mhango last night). Marksman.

— OptaJabu (@OptaJabu) January 8, 2020

It’s been a year for defenders with Maritzburg United’s Rushine De Reuck also standing out as one of the best performers this campaign. With the Team of Choice mounting a real challenge to finish as high as possible, currently sitting in sixth place, its been a stellar season for Eric Tinkler and his charges.

Due to the club’s impressive performances, De Reuck has found himself a wanted man across the country, with some of South Africa’s biggest clubs being linked with his signature. The 24-year-old has helped Maritzburg United keep nine clean sheets and has commanded a backline which has conceded just 13 goals, the most from any team to have played 18 games or more.

If De Reuck can keep up his emphatic displays, then not only could he stand a chance of claiming the Absa Premiership Player of the Season, but Bafana Bafana could have a real gem on their hands.

Rushine de Reuck easily the Defender of the Season.

— I don’t have a view – ? (@FootballTshepo) January 19, 2020

MORE SOCCER