Sundowns duo up for PSL award
16 May 2007
Two of the three nominees for the 2007 PSL Player of the Season Award - 2006 winner Surprise Moriri and midfielder Godfrey Sapula - are from champions Mamelodi Sundowns, with Kaizer Chiefs striker Kaizer Motaung junior also in the running for the honour.
Last season, Moriri was not only named Player of the Season, but he also won the Players' Player of the Season Award.
He said being nominated for the award for a second season in succession means a lot to him, but added that, although it is an award given to an individual, it is an honour that cannot be won without the input of teammates.
Favourite
Despite Moriri's strong season, his teammate, Godfrey Sapula, is probably the favourite to land the award.
He has enjoyed a fine, consistent season in the Brazilians' engine room, dominating matches and giving Sundowns control of the midfield.
The media has recognised his role in Downs' title-winning
season and, with the media doing the voting, Sapula looks the likely winner of the award.
Reflecting on his nomination, like Moriri, he immediately gave his teammates credit, saying it hadn't been a one-man effort.
Both Sundowns players have so far netted nine times this season, providing the champions with a decent goal-scoring return from their midfielders.
Goal scoring
Motaung junior, the son of the founder of Kaizer Chiefs, has netted 12 times for the Amakhosi, with one match to play, in what has been a season in which strikers league-wide have struggled to find the back of the net.
In fact, so great has the paucity of goals been that a new minimum of 15 goals has been introduced for the Lesley Manyathela Award which is given to the league's top scorer.
This season only one player has reached that number, Christopher Katongo. In a strange twist, he reached the figure by January, but was then transferred from Jomo
Cosmos to Danish club Brondby. Motaung junior's 12 goals is the second best tally.
In recent seasons, the award has twice been won by players scoring 14 goals, including Mame Niang in 2005/2006 and Jackie Ledwaba in 2003/2004.
Coach of the Year
Mamelodi Sundowns' coach Gordon Igesund, after leading a fourth club to the PSL title, following previous successes with Manning Rangers, Orlando Pirates, and Santos, is the leading candidate to win the Coach of the Season Award.
He also has the Tshwane club in the final of the Absa Cup and victory in the knockout competition would put the cherry on top for the Brazilians after a dominant league season.
Sundowns' opponents in the Absa Cup final, Ajax Cape Town, appear set to land one of two new awards, that of Young Player of the Season.
Criteria
There's R50 000 on offer to the winner who must be over 18, but under 23, and have performed outstandingly
while playing at least 75% of his club's games.
The player must also have been part of his team's youth development programme. It is that factor that makes an Urban Warrior the likely winner of the award.
The other new award, also worth R50 000, is the Goalkeeper of the Year.
The criteria sought are someone who has played at least 75% of his club's matches and performed with consistency whilst exhibiting discipline and showing a good return in goals conceded.
2006 Winners
Perfectly Balanced team of the Season (Moroka Swallows)
Coach of the Year (Owen Da Gama)
Player of the Season (Surprise Moriri)
Players' Player of the Season (Surprise Moriri)
Referee of the Season (Ace Ncobo and Abdul Ebhrahim)
Assistant Referee of the Season (Toko Malebo)
Lesley Manyathela Award (Mame Niang)
Finest Moment of the Season - Goal of the Season - (Esrom Nyandoro)
Supporters through Commitment Award (Bloemfontein
Celtic)
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