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PSL Team of the Season so far

PSL Team of the Season so far

Posted: 2012-01-13 14:19

With the PSL now at the halfway mark, KickOff.com put together the best XI in a 3-4-3 formation. And a couple of players in this team prove that age is indeed nothing but a number.

GOALKEEPER
Arthur Bartman [Kaizer Chiefs].
Six clean sheets in eight League matches belies his age. Even at 39, he still possesses some quick reflexes. Who could forget the day he kept Mamelodi Sundowns at bay at the Loftus Stadium, where Chiefs had their backs to the wall but thanks to Bartman they went on to win the match 1-0?

DEFENDERS
Rudiger Gilbert [Free State Stars]/ Siyabonga Sangweni [Orlando Pirates]/ Tebogo Langerman [SuperSport United]
Gilbert was a problem child last season with his disappearing acts and suffered heartbreak with the death of his mother, but he has put all that behind him this season by being one of the best players for Ea Lla Koto in the right-back position. Sangweni is playing a pivotal role for Bucs in central defence and Langerman has settled into the left-back position with some ease for second-placed SuperSport United.

MIDFIELDERS
Teko Modise, Elias Pelembe [both Mamelodi Sundowns]/ Sibusiso Vilakazi [Bidvest Wits]/ David Mathebula [Moroka Swallows].
Star man Modise has answered his critics the way he knows best, while his teammate Pelembe has done well down the wing. Vilakazi has come of age this season with six goals in 11 League starts from midfield and Mathebula is living proof that there is life after Kaizer Chiefs and also one of the reasons why Swallows are currently fourth on the table.

STRIKERS
Katlego Mphela [Mamelodi Sundowns]/ Siyabonga Nomvete [Moroka Swallows], Atusaye Nyondo [SuperSport United]
‘Killer’ is the top scorer with nine goals, followed closely on eight by the evergreen Nomvete, who has played every League match despite being 33. Nyondo has impressed in his first season in the PSL.

COACH
Johan Neeskens [Mamelodi Sundowns]
Sundowns players speak highly of him and results are there for all to see.

BENCH
Ronwen Williams [SuperSport United], Jimmy Tau [Kaizer Chiefs], Carlington Nyadombo [Amazulu], Felix Obada [Maritzburg United], Patrick Phungwayo, Ryan Chapman [both Bidvest Wits] and Benni McCarthy [Orlando Pirates].
At one stage, Williams kept five consecutive clean sheets, but he will have to settle for a place on the bench in this team because he conceded seven goals in the last three matches before the festive break, including some glaring errors. And despite losing the captaincy, Tau has kept his cool and down in Durban, Obada has done fairly well for Maritzburg United.

Neighbours AmaZulu have the joint best defence in the League with Chiefs after conceding just 10 goals in 15 matches, and Nyadombo is playing his part really well thus far. Phungwayo has caught the eye with his darting runs down the left and his teammate Chapman has been consistent up-front. Finally, McCarthy has made an impact in most of the seven starts he has made in the League with Bucs players feeding off him.

PLEASE NOTE: Players were picked based on League games.

By Tiyani wa ka Mabasa
Follow Tiyani on Twitter @TTM16.

Comment on this article:

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Tala: 2012-01-13 14:37

A team without a defensive midfielder? Come on..

FISTOS: 2012-01-13 14:42

compliments tiyani,
i see nothing have changed here,
if this is kick off team of the year so far i rest my case,
u must as well include shaun battlet,

wat do u say of a player who kicks the ball alone and get injured,yes im talking about benny fatty makati,

TTM: 2012-01-13 14:52

Heita, guys and happy new year. Sbu. Vilakazi is a utility player and capable of defending in midfield. What is your team?

Scirocco 'R': 2012-01-13 14:55

KO,-runin out of stories or jst in a weekend mood alredi?

Scirocco 'R': 2012-01-13 15:01

eh nxt time u wil b reportin abt playrs undawears yerrr..entlik wy u neva ryt an articl abt Mzansi's top 10 *best paid players in de PSL* iyoh

CAF Rule 14.1: 2012-01-13 15:01

Hehehe Tiyani.. you are so funny.

Bennie McCarthy is far much better than your Nomvetes and Mphelas. even in Bafana squad Bennie can stil displace a lot of players.

I still fail to understand how you put players who have never won a single thing in this campaign!
Mind you Teko is still off-form. i like him as well but he is still a very dark shadow of the Teko we know, so stop imagining that he is back to his best

TTM: 2012-01-13 15:10

CAF Rule 14.1: 2012-01-13 15:01

PLEASE NOTE: Players were picked based on League games.

Benni has scored three goals in 7 League matches. Mphela is the leading scorer with 9 goals with Nomvete one behind with 8. If I included the cup matches, Benni will definitely be in the starting XI but this is about the League games.

mhlanga: 2012-01-13 15:25

Tiyani my broer jy is dom big time!! I won't even try to elaborate why I'm saying so, anybody who poses proper intelect can just see what I mean!!

TTM: 2012-01-13 15:28

mhlanga: 2012-01-13 15:25

I respect your opinion.

no1fan: 2012-01-13 15:32

This is rubbish. The team of the season so far is a team that has won all cups on offer. This Tiyani character really has the Buccaneer!

CAF Rule 14.1: 2012-01-13 15:44

@TTM

I think thats where you lose it. its time we look at striker in terms of goals only but assists as well which Benni has done well in and lacks in the Bafana squad

I WRITE WHAT I LIKE: 2012-01-13 15:54

I guess TTM is right. I don't think that Bartman is a bad goalminder at all!

As for the 3-4-3 formation, I support you...South African players are best when playing wing number 7,11,9, upfront...have number 8,10 and 6 in the middle of the park, whilst ur 2,3,4 and 5 are back stoppers with number five as a sweeper.

Hence, i am cocluding by saying that...Dutch system is suitable for our players...e.g. Last year Ajax cT was coached by De Haan, Pirates by Krol... how where this two teams performing...currently sundowns is under a dutch coach...my point is TTM is right with the formation.

Bathini abanye??

Dooba OPC: 2012-01-13 15:59

seeing fatty in your team is far from sanity! But anyway, everybody has his opinion; but it depends on who's opinion is more powerful, not on whether it is wrong or right- i mean the public's opinion is right about many things, but dont have power to influence anything!

NZOTHO: 2012-01-13 16:05

TTM many thanx 4 this u threw the cat amongst the pigeons with this article we all entitled 2 our opinions,the system u chose suits the X1 u selected & very attack minded

De Bruin!!!: 2012-01-14 08:42

mxm wer s klate n cloete?
y s sir leal nt in der cos he has won evtrythn on offa n he jst 7 points bhind sunclowns
eix dis guy s worse dan malema yerrrrrr

Liar: 2012-01-15 09:35

wht did this team win? take Sangweni & Bennie out of tht crap! fact is Pirates won all the cups in 2011 finish & klaar!

Phaumanyetse: 2012-01-16 09:54

I have to agree with Tala, I will suggest that you change the formation to 4-3-3. Drop Mathebula or Vilakazi and introduce Morgan Gould in defence. In the 3-4-3 you will have to drop Vilakazi for Jali.

Tshifhiwa: 2012-01-16 11:16

Pirates has 1 player in the starting eleven, but they have all 4 official cups in their cabinet, this just show lack of quality journalism in SA.

Bucs Shady: 2012-01-16 16:00

1. Arthur Baartman
2. Jimmy Tau (it could have been Jele easily)
3. Patrick Phungwayo
4. Erick Mathoho
5. Siyabonga Sangweni

6. Sibu Vilakazi
7. Teko Modise
8. Clifford Mulenga
9. Mzikayishe Mashaba

10. Atusaye Nyondo
11. Ryan Chapman

Big Dude: 2012-01-16 16:06

Good team, Tiyani.

Mukanya: 2012-02-11 13:51

If you play 3 at the back...you may want to play 5 in midfield and 2 upfront. This looks to me more like a list of the best players not necessarily the best team