The PSL resumes on February 7 - and, with an air of optimism emanating from the Mother City’s two top-flight clubs, there’s certainly a lot to look forward to next year.
Cape Town City are sitting pretty near the summit in third position on the standings, level on 25 points with the top two teams, SuperSport United and Wits. Considering how well they’ve performed, if they keep it up, they could be among the title-challengers.
Ajax Cape Town, after a terrible start to the campaign, have rallied under new coach Stanley Menzo and are in a comfortable mid-table position. If they maintain their current form, they are definitely candidates for a high log finish come the end of the season.
So, with an intriguing second half of the PSL season awaiting in the new year, here are a few players to watch.
AJAX CAPE TOWN
Grant Margeman
The 18-year-old from Bonteheuwel finished the year in sensational fashion. Having just forced his way into the team, after some inspirational displays as a substitute, Margeman is most certainly a footballer on the rise. The teenager has a composed, mature head on his shoulders and is very comfortable in possession. Menzo has been hugely impressed with the youngster - and it’s now up to Margeman to continue to progress in the new year.
Rivaldo Coetzee
The sign of a great player is not so much his ability, but how he responds to adversity. Coetzee’s prodigious talent is not in question, but it appears that his temperament is now under the spotlight. The 20-year-old central defender was dropped for disciplinary reasons in Ajax’s last game of the year. Menzo refused to reveal what Coetzee had done, but it was considered enough to earn the coach’s anger. So, as we look to next year, the question is how will Coetzee react? With petulance, or will he knuckle down and regain the Menzo’s confidence?
Tashreeq Morris
Under former Ajax coach Roger de Sa, Morris was one of the first names on the team sheet. The Mitchell’s Plain attacker made great strides and even played for the SA Under-23s at the Rio Olympics. He has, unfortunately, been plagued by injury. Menzo, in fact, admitted that he wasn’t satisfied as yet and that, at the moment, Morris just wasn’t on form. But form, as they always say, is temporary. Morris has an opportunity next year to work hard and regain the fettle that made him one of the brightest talents in the PSL.
Masilakhe Phohlongo
At Ajax, Phohlongo has long been spoken of as a player destined for the top. Blessed with an intelligent left foot and mercurial football brain, the 19-year-old winger from Langa was recently handed his PSL debut by Menzo. The coach was happy with the youngster’s energetic performance - and, no doubt, we’ll see a lot more of him in the new year.
Rodrick Kabwe
The 24-year-old Zambian will be arriving to join Ajax in January. Spotted by the Cape club’s chief scout Luis de Faria - the popular former Glenville man who is credited with discovering quite a few Cape talents - Kabwe is already a regular in the Zambian national team. The midfielder has impressed everyone at Ajax and much is expected when he hits the PSL next year.
CAPE TOWN CITY
Lebogang Manyama
Certainly one of the most talked-about players in the PSL, Manyama’s challenge next year is to sustain his current level of form. For that alone, he’s a player to be monitored. One thing’s definite, if he’s able to maintain the momentum, and continue to perform as he did this year, then he’s a shoo-in for PSL Player of the Year.
Duncan Adonis
The promising 17-year-old from Hout Bay was given some game time off the bench by City coach Eric Tinkler this year. The Cape club rates the kid highly, but they are determined to bring him along slowly. If possible next year, depending on the game situation, Tinkler will have no hesitation in offering the teenager more opportunities. But, whatever the case, remember the name Adonis - he’s on the rise.
Roland Putsche
Austrian midfielder Putsche has been a revelation. European players who choose the PSL are usually tainted as not good enough to play where they come from. Not Putsche While he struggled initially, having to come to terms with the speed and limited space available in the PSL, he rapidly adapted and has been one of the best players on show for City. Next year, he has an opportunity to build on that.
Joseph Adjei
The 21-year-old Ghanaian quickly showed that he has what it takes when given a chance in the heart of the City defence. He faces stiff competition to get into the team, with Tshepo Gumede and Robyn Johannes ahead of him in the queue, but Tinkler has made no secret of his admiration for the Ghanaian. Rest assured, if Gumede and Johannes put a foot wrong next year, Adjei will be right there to step in - and he won’t look back. He’ll make the position his own.
Nana Akosah-Bempah
Another Ghanaian to keep an eye on in the new year. The 18-year-old, who was born in the United States, made his PSL debut for City in a 1-1 draw with SuperSport United earlier this month, a cameo performance which impressed Tinkler. The City coach is expecting the youngster to make good progress next year.
Luyolo Nomandela
Once one of the PSL’s shining talents, Nomandela has recently lost his way. He sprang to prominence at Free State Stars in 2012, which alerted big-spenders Mamelodi Sundowns. But, since joining the Pretoria club, things went awry.
Signed by City, as a free agent, earlier this month, he came on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with SuperSport. Tinkler has no doubt that 27-year-old Nomandela still has a lot to offer. And, as the player gets fitter, and the more he plays, the better he’ll get. That’s something to look forward to next year.