Team of the Season

GOALKEEPER Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United) Williams was, if anything, impressive for a 20-year-old in his maiden season and more impressively was when he kept five clean-sheets in a row from October 29 to November 18 – the only goalkeeper to do so in the League during the season.

DEFENDERS Lucky Lekgwathi (Orlando Pirates) He saved his best for last with three crucial goals in the last four League matches and his overall contribution was commendable, especially for a 34-year-old.

Punch Masenamela (Mamelodi Sundowns) No doubt his season was a massive improvement from his days at Kaizer Chiefs.

Siyabonga Sangweni (Orlando Pirates) ‘Ntsimbi’ has not only been outstanding in defence, but he offered a lot going forward too with his knack for scoring crucial goals. No doubt my PSL Footballer of the Year – he was the Telkom Knockout Defender of the Tournament, a nominee for the MTN8 Last Man Standing award and he started 28 League matches for Bucs in his first season at the club.

Morgan Gould (SuperSport United) He is always in the referee’s book for his aggressive approach, but that’s what makes him tick and that’s the reason he is a regular feature in the Bafana Bafana team. He is also a Nedbank Cup champion.

MIDFIELDERS Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates) Questions have been raised about his discipline, but there is no question about his ability. He missed games at times because of suspensions, but he rarely lost midfield battles when he was in the team.

David Mathebula (Moroka Swallows) ‘DVD’ was voted KICK OFF’s Footballer of the Year and that on its own says a lot, because soccer fans vote for this award. His story is all the more interesting because he was shown the door at Kaizer Chiefs, then got relegated with Mpumalanga Black Aces and picked himself up to be one of the best players for Swallows – he scored 10 goals and one was a contender for the PSL Goal of the Season.

Teko Modise (Mamelodi Sundowns) Teko had his ups and downs, but he did to some extent silence his critics with seven goals in close to 30 games in all competitions.

Mzikayise Mashaba (Free State Stars) Mashaba’s teammate Edward Manqele obviously hogged the spotlight for his goals, but this is one player who was an unsung hero in the Stars team.

STRIKERS Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows) Bhele broke the 20-goal mark for the first time since the days of Collins Mbesuma in 2004/05 and, to prove his worth, he is back in the national team at age 34. The bottom line is Bhele was a cut above the rest in terms of League games.

Benni McCarthy (Orlando Pirates) The Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament silenced his critics with 13 goals in 26 starts – a 50 percent scoring ratio in all competitions, excluding the CAF matches.

BENCH: Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates – 12 clean sheets in 26 League games, plus three more in the cups)

Sibusiso Msomi (Platinum Stars – hardly noticed because he plays for the ‘wrong team’, but he proved his worth more often than not)

Edward Manqele (Free State Stars – 14 goals in all competitions in only his first season)

Katlego Mashego (Free State Stars – his work rate must be commended and chipped in with goals too)

Carlington Nyadombo (AmaZulu – one of the reasons Usuthu finished the season with the fourth best defence in the League)

Eleazar Rodgers (Santos – 12 goals in 20 League starts)

Mongezi Bobe (Black Leopards – led by example at Leopards with seven goals in 25 League starts)

Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs – he was the stand out player in a Chiefs team that faltered)

COACH OF THE SEASON Gordon Igesund (Moroka Swallows) How many coaches are capable of turning a team that survived relegation the previous into title contenders? What a great coach!