The secret of how a man of the match is selected in televised PSL matches has been explained by an insider who works closely with the broadcasters.
The criteria for choosing the best player on the field was brought into question again on Wednesday night.
This time it was Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp who questioned how Serbian striker Samir Nurkovic, who scored a brace in the 4-0 win over Stellenbosch, was chosen as man of the match.
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Middendorp appeared to be of the opinion that Nurkovic's teammate Siyabonga Ngezana, who also produced a sterling performance, should have received the accolade.
"Ja... I don't know if Samir deserved to be man of the match but I... didn't really know how Siyabonga Ngezana is coming into the game and being only two days with us but, I think that was a [best] performance I have seen from him in my now 12 months," he said.
Back in 2014 Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane questioned Mpumalanga Black Aces player Sibusiso Gumede's selection as the best player on the field.
"I'm surprised about the man of the match. Guys, who chooses? He was all over the place first half, one way and going that way and then man of the match," Mosimane said at the time.
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Mosimane was not done with the broadcasters as he slammed them again in 2018 when Chiefs star Khama Billiat walked away with the recognition in their 1-1 draw at Loftus Stadium.
"What did he do?" he asked then-SuperSport TV anchor Robert Marawa in his post-match interview.
According to an insider who works closely with the commentators at one of the South African television stations, there is no exact criteria currently in place for choosing a man of the match in Mzansi.
"The man of the match is always chosen by the commentators," the source tells snl24.com/kickoff.
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"In other matches it's only chosen by SuperSport commentators. There's no real fixed criteria, it's a bit of a subjective decision because obviously the guys are concentrating on calling the match and talking and now at the same time they are being asked to make a decision, so it's usually the stand out performer you know.
"I wouldn't say that it's something that is sat down and debated very hard, because it's not possible to do it you know. You are busy talking with ten minutes to go and then someone will say from downstairs in the van [in your headphones] 'hey, can I have your candidate of man of the match'.
"The commentators don't have time to do that kind of stuff. That's why sometimes their choices are a little bit controversial because the commentators and the analysts are asked to make a decision on the spur of the moment really."
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