03 September 2019, by: Hansley Jugar

PSL Team of the Month – September

September has come and gone, and with that, we present our team of the month. Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits were only able to play one game apiece due to continental competition, but it was an otherwise action-packed month. Highlands Park and Kaizer Chiefs carried their good form from August, while Amazulu are showing relegation worthy play.

Thela Ngobeni didn’t start the season as Highland Park’s number one but has been integral to their rise up the table and their run to the MTN8 final. He conceded 1 goal in 2 games in September. Daniel Akpeyi deserves a special mention, but he loses out due to playing fewer minutes.

Are Kaizer Chiefs good or lucky? That much will be clear come the end of the season, they seem good value for their place on the log so far. A lot of that has been based on a solid foundation at the back. Daniel Cardoso has played every minute this season and has built a very good understanding with Eric Mathoho.

Nicholas Motloung will not be playing at Polokwane City next season if he keeps this level of performances up. Arguably the best up-and-coming centre back in the country. He is part of a back four that has conceded the least goals this season. He even came up with a goal against SuperSport United on matchday 6.

Its back-to-back team of the month appearances for Eric Mathoho. With Itumeleng Khune injured, he has stepped up as a leader and his influence is rubbing off on his team. Kaizer Chiefs should surely be considered contenders for the league based on their performances so far.

I wrote about how Thabo Nodada had all the tools to make it abroad before the season kicked off, and after a slow start (due to injury), he is proving me correct. Known mostly for his work as a midfield workhorse, he showed another side of his game in September. He has now scored more goals this season, than in any other.

Bidvest Wits may have only played one ABSA PSL match in September but that is all Deon Hotto needed to show that he is one of the best players in the league. A goal and an assist versus Pirates mean he has 4 attacking contributions in 5 games so far this season.

The 37-year-old Polokwane City legend continues to be the heartbeat of his team and was huge in both their wins versus Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United. We don’t know how many more seasons he has in him, but he looks like he could play well into his 40s.

The golden boot race this season will be an intriguing one. September saw 58 goals scored and only 3 teams averaged less than a goal a game. Kermit Erasmus has scored in 4 of his last games and Cape Town City will need to tighten up on the defensive end to ensure his efforts aren’t in vain.

Orlando Pirates have one hell of a player on their hands. Tshegofatso Mabasa flew under the radar after his exploits at Bloemfontein Celtic last season (he scored 9 goals), but after 4 goals in 3 games, he is looking like the signing of the season.

What a season Bradley Grobler is having so far. He has provided the most attacking contributions (8) this season, that’s more than one a game. More impressively, he has only failed to contribute in one game (only Peter Shalulile can say the same).

He was in our team of the month last time around and is arguably one of the players of the season so far. We also identified him as Highlands Park’s talisman in one of our other pieces, but no one could have foreseen how he has started the current season. 6 goals in 6 games mean he leads the pack in terms of goals scored.

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