AmaZulu FC head coach Arthur Zwane has explained why he would pick Relebohile Mofokeng over Lucas Ribeiro Costa as his Player of the Season.
Zwane found Usuthu in 16th place and guided them to a top eight finish, securing sixth place after holding Orlando Pirates to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
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After the draw, Zwane was asked for his pick for the Player of the Season, and while he admitted Lucas Ribeiro is an obvious choice, he would pick Mofokeng for how he has carried the Buccaneers.
“I don’t want to sound controversial, but I think you look at Rele – I think he carried Orlando Pirates,” he said, as per Ayanda Nyuswa.
“You look at Ribeiro. Obviously, Sundowns win the league, so to be quite honest it’s the Ribeiro we know.
“But Rele as a youngster doing what he’s done this past season, carrying a giant on his shoulder, I think it was something else, it was amazing.
“We need players like him, so others see him performing at this level. And now he’s definitely going to go to the World Cup – I don’t want people to say I’m picking him; I’m not the national coach. But looking at how coach Broos does, and he integrated to the senior national team.
“For him it was a big jump because he never played for the U20, maybe the previous players, but because he’s an exceptional talent. There is no doubt about he’s gonna make AFCON and the World Cup.
“Also, credit must be given to their coaches – all those coaches from School of Excellence, Pirates, Jose [Riveiro], Duku Duku Makhanya, who spotted the talent and make life easy for the first team as well to get players promoted.
“Coach Jose for giving all those players an opportunity. Today the player that scored the equaliser is also from the development, it tells you that South African football is going far…
“And Ribeiro there is no doubt…”
Zwane also discussed the Coach of the Season, saying Miguel Cardoso deserves it after guiding Masandawana to their eighth successive league title.
“I think, the Mamelodi Sundowns coach, 70% of the season belongs to him, it’s as simple as that – if you win the league, you win Coach of the Season,” he added.
“That means you’ve done enough. If Sundowns win the league with so much points, you should give credit to Mamelodi Sundowns technical and the head coach as well, and all the players.
“And maybe the other one would be Mokoena, or Makhaula has played very well – when you talk about the Midfielders of the Season.”
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