Our writer has put together his PSL Team of the Season from the previous campaign.
Image copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United) – The Bafana Bafana goalkeeper is a strong contender to claim his second successive Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season award after keeping 13 clean sheets in 30 appearances this past season.
RB: Reeve Frosler (Kaizer Chiefs) – After recovering from that long lay-off, Reeve Frosler was undoubtedly the best right back in the league. Frosler’s call-up to the national team by Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki recently didn’t come as a surprise either.
CB: Thulani Hlatshwayo (Bidvest Wits) – “Tyson” is undoubtedly the best defender in the league, and he made that Bidvest Wits defence look good. He partnered Buhle Mkhwanazi and that partnership was so good it become the defensive core of Bafana Bafana. In the bio-bubble, he played with Lorenzo Gordinho and Wits still conceded the fewest goals. Hlatshwayo is nothing but a leader and makes everyone around him look good.
CB: Nkosinathi Sibisi (Golden Arrows) – Sibisi is one of the league’s most underrated defenders and it’s amazing how he continues to go under the radar. Last season, he pocketed all the top scorers including Samir Nurkovic, Gabadinho Mhango, Peter Shalulile, and Bradley Grobler. His former coach, Steve Komphela, also likened him to Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro.
LB: Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates) – Orlando Pirates had defensive problems at the beginning of the season and they chopped and changed players. Innocent Maela was the only consistent performer in the team and gave his best. He is very comfortable on the ball and very strong defensively. He scored two and claimed one assist in 26 league appearances.
CM: Thabo Nodada (Cape Town City) – Another player who earned his Bafana Bafana call up, Nodada was absolutely amazing last season and a strong contender for Midfielder of the Season. The 25-year-old scored five goals and claimed one assist in a Cape Town City team that struggled for long periods of the season. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Nodada moves to Gauteng in the foreseeable future.
CM: Lebogang Manyama (Kaizer Chiefs) – The 2016/17 Player of the Season was one of the best players in the league last season. Manyama’s contribution was key to Kaizer Chiefs finishing second. He scored six goals and registered nine assists in the league. Another strong contender for Midfielder of the Season.
LM: Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns) – Most pundits believe Zwane should be Footballer of the Season as he was outstanding, scoring 11 goals and recording eight assists in the league. Mshishi was the main architect in the treble-winning Mamelodi Sundowns team.
RM: Peter Shalulile (Highlands Park) – One of the fittest players in the league, Peter Shalulile played all 30 games last season scoring 16 goals which made him joint-top scorer with Mhango. The Namibian forward was snatched up by league champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, after his incredible season.
ST: Gabadinho Mhango (Orlando Pirates) – Mhango is set to collect the Golden
Boot alongside Peter Shalulile, after the pair each netted 16 league goals.
Since the arrival of Josef Zinnbauer, Mhango become a different player. He
single-handedly won games for Orlando Pirates and he’s one of the reasons the
club finished third.
ST:
Samir Nurkovic (Kaizer Chiefs) – This
was by far the best debut performance I’ve ever seen in the PSL. Samir Nurkovic
single-handedly made Kaizer Chiefs into a title-challenging team. For me,
Nurkovic should be Footballer of the Season as he literally bulldozed the
defenders. Despite him not scoring or assisting, he was still the main
contributor in most of the goals Chiefs scored. When he didn’t play, Amakhosi
looked completely different.
Written by: Banele Pikwa
