JOHANNESBURG - Percy Tau will compete for the 2018 Premier Soccer League Footballer of the Season with Mamelodi Sundowns teammate Hlompho Kekana as well as Siphesihle Ndlovu, the Maritzburg United midfielder who many feel enjoyed a breathtaking season as the Team of Choice finished in fourth place and reached the final of the Nedbank Cup.
The nominees for the PSL awards, to be hosted next Tuesday night at the Sandton Convention Centre, were announced in Johannesburg on Monday.
Tau, Kekana and Ndlovu were the judges’ (the 16 PSL coaches) choices for what will be the biggest accolade on the night.
Their names also popped up elsewhere, with both Tau and Ndlovu making the shortlist for the Players’ Player of the Season award – that list completed with the addition of Musa Nyatama, who was equally outstanding for Orlando Pirates.
Kekana has also been nominated for the Midfielder of the Year, where Ndlovu and Nyatama feature again.
In the Defender of the Season category, interestingly, the Maritzburg duo of Siyanda Xulu and Bevan Fransman made the list alongside Innocent Maela, in his debut season with the Buccaneers.
Itumeleng Khune (Chiefs), Richard Ofori (Maritzburg) and Denis Onyango were nominated as the Goalkeeper of the Season category.
Meanwhile, Clinton Larsen of Golden Arrows picked up the Coach of the Month for May and was joined by striker Lerato Lamola, who won the Player of the Month.
Chiefs’ Bernard Parker walked away with the Goal of the Month for his strike that sunk Ajax Cape Town to the play-off, and subsequently relegation.
Ndlovu had to settle for a silver medal after Maritzburg United lost to Free State Stars in Saturday Nedbank Cup final. Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
The rest of the nominees:
MTN8 Last Man Standing: Jeremy Brockie (while at SuperSport United), Thabo Nodada (Cape Town City), Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United)
Telkom Knockout – Amr Gamal (Wits) , Darren Keet (Wits), Lantshene Phalane (Bloemfontein Celtic)
Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player – Lebogang Maboe (Maritzburg) , Siphesihle Ndlovu (Maritzburg), Nyiko Mobbie (Free State Stars)
Goalkeeper of the season: Itumeleng Khune (Chiefs), Richard Ofori (Maritzburg), Denis Onyango (Sundowns)
Defender of the season: Siyanda Xulu (Maritzburg), Bevan Fransman (Maritzburg), Innocent Maela (Pirates)
Midfielder of the season: Siphesihle Ndlovu (Maritzburg), Hlompho Kekana (Sundowns), Musa Nyatama (Pirates)
Coach of the season: Fadlu, Pitso Mosimane, Micho Sredojevic
Young Player: Siphesihle Ndlovu, Sibusiso Mabiliso (AmaZulu), Teboho Mokoena (SuperSport United)
Player’s Player: Percy Tau, Musa Nyatama, Siphesihle Ndlovu
Footballer of the Year: Hlompho Kekana, Siphesihle Ndlovu, Percy Tau
@superjourno