After Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine was named the best in his position for 2024/25 season, Kickoff.com analyses the stats versus competition he beat from Elvis Chipezeze and Ronwen Williams.
Chaine was named Goalkeeper of the Season in the recent PSL Awards, starving off strong competition from Magesi shot-stopper Chipezeze.
Mamelodi Sundowns' Williams was not highly rated after he featured only in 16 league matches but incredibly, he kept 11 clean-sheets, the same as winner Chaine, who managed that number of clean-sheets from 25 league matches.
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Chipezeze, meanwhile, kept ten clean-sheets from 25 games.
The Bafana Bafana number one was superior in goals conceded, even though he played less games, conceding only six goals.
While Pirates number one conceded 18 goals and the Zimbabwean shot-stopper collected the ball from the back of the net 28 times.
Chipezeze has been criticized by some sections of supporters for time-wasting tactics but in so far as cautions are concerned, Chaine was booked four times while the Magesi number one only receive one yellow card. Williams also had one booking in his league matches (none got a red-card in the league).
There is a big debate going on that Chipezeze deserved to win the Goalkeeper of the Season award, considering that Dikwena get attacked the most and don't have the same quality of defenders as the Soweto giants.
However, former Pirates midfielder Xola Mlambo differs with that argument.
"In my opinion, I think Sipho deserves it, the team finished second, if you look at where Magesi finished, they were in and out the battle of relegation," Mlambo said on Switch On Network YouTube Channel.
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"Looking at the teams' performance, look at where Pirates finished, despite the fact that how many saves and all of that. It's not Chaine's fault that he is not attacked (as much as Chipezeze at Magesi),
"Sometimes when shots are taken, they are being cut off by centre-backs, when they arrive at Chipezeze and he's able to make those saves, kudos to him but where did Magesi finish and Pirates finish?" Mlambo asked.
The award was judged by William Shongwe, Siyabonga Nkosi (both SuperSport), Thabo Kofa (Lesedi FM), Vuyo Macoba (Newzroom Afrika) and Brighton Mhlongo (eTV).
Photo by Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images
