Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates player Benson Mhlongo has shared his thoughts on who should win the PSL Footballer of the Season award.
The nominees for the award include Sundowns' Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Sekhukhune United's Keletso Makgalwa, and Pirates' Relebohile Mofokeng. Only one of them will be crowned the winner on July 29, 2025.
The nominations were exclusively made by head coaches from the Premier Division.
"Makgalwa's nomination shouldn't come as a surprise; he performed well for Sekhukhune United, and we cannot dispute that," Mhlongo tells KickOff.
"However, we all have different opinions, and in my view, the standout player should be Lucas Ribeiro. He was consistent throughout the season.
"While Makgalwa had his moments, and Mofokeng was not as influential towards the end—maybe there were distractions. My vote goes to Ribeiro. He had a season reminiscent of Teko Modise and Katlego Mashego. He was a key player, especially after Themba Zwane was sidelined. Ribeiro stepped up and scored crucial goals for the team.
"The difference between Ribeiro and the other two is that he managed to secure important victories for his team."
Mhlongo also mentioned that all is not lost for Mofokeng, as he still has a chance to win the Players' Player of the Season award.
"It's clear that when it comes to the Players' Player of the Season, Mofokeng is likely to take it. This award is typically given to someone who surprises us by excelling unexpectedly.
"We should respect a player who stepped up to lead a major team like Orlando Pirates, especially at a young age. If you outperform everyone else, you deserve that recognition."
