Orlando Pirates were so chuffed about their many PSL Awards nominees that they took it to their social media platforms and waxed lyrical. When you are reading at the manner and artistry in which it was written, I will forgive you if you thought that the Buccaneers were the game changers and that they are the league champions.
The 2024-25 award winners will be announced on Tuesday, and judging by the list of nominees, Pirates will give Bet-way Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns a run for their money – it will feel like visiting a jam-packed, eSgodini sika Maminzela (Orlando Stadium) on a seething Saturday afternoon for the Brazilians. They know how painful that experience has been of late.
This thing of glorifying runners-up and bridesmaids leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Sundowns, as boring as it sounds, after eight consecutive league titles, should be dominating the awards in almost all fronts. They have invested so much in their success that the other teams are just there to make up the numbers. The likes of Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and others are still very far behind, and will likely not catch up with Sundowns anytime soon.
We understand that the history of the local game favours The Buccaneers and Amakhosi to be the top dogs in diski circles.
The arrival of Patrice Motsepe and his generous cheque book in 2003 has certainly whisked the power from the Soweto giants – and to be honest, the jealousy is obvious.
Well, for the uninitiated, the Bucs statement went like: “The Buccaneers dominated the list of nominees for this year’s prestigious awards, with forward Relebohile Mofokeng leading the way. The 20-year-old got the nod in five categories, including the coveted Players’ Player of the Season and Footballer of the Season awards.
“There is heavy representation in the league categories with Sipho Chaine, Nkosinathi Sibisi and Makhehleni Makhaula each getting a nod for the goalkeeper, defender, and midfielder of the season awards.
“An identical set of nominees appears in the two show-stopping categories – Players’ Player of the Season and Footballer of the Season – with Mofokeng set to contest both awards against Mamelodi Sundowns playmaker Lucas Ribeiro Costa and
Sekhukhune United’s Keletso Makgalwa,” reads part of it.
Well, Pirates cannot be faulted for basking in the glory. The real questions should be directed at the league and the criteria used for these nominations and awards. The judges as well should be screened, vetted and scrutinised. With the advent of social media, there is a huge difference between ‘influencers’ and bonafide football reporters, who write and deliberate about the game week in and out.
Supporters have now become opinion makers and VIPs. Now, there’s almost a grey line between fans, talent scouts, soccer writers and influencers – and the line is growing wider. Under those circumstances, so-called supporters now sit in the VIP stands, cheer for their team, then scream at club bosses about which players to sign.
They will then get invited to influence judging, just because of their huge social media following – and not for football knowledge – where they end up picking undeserving players from their favourite clubs.
One avid diski follower even asked: “We really don’t mind, but it’s surprising how every season, players from the second-placed team, get overhyped more than the PSL champions. In doing this, are they making us to believe that players finishing second with a gap of over 10 points has actually performed better than the first-placed team?”
I agree, what is going on here?
