Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso bravely came out to say that his marquee player, Lucas Ribeiro, should be the undisputed footballer of the inaugural Betway Premiership season.
Ribeiro currently leads the top goal scorer chart with 13 goals and seven assists in the league.
One of the standout players this season
The 26-year-old Brazilian dribbling wizard has been one of the standout players this season, contributing immensely to the success of Sundowns this season.
Masandawana are just four points away from their historic eight successive Premier Soccer League (PSL) title. And they will be vying for their continental star after reaching the CAF Champions League final for the first time in nine years.
Ribeiro came off the bench when Sundowns eased past Chippa United with a 3-0 win – a scoreline that means the Brazilians have scored a record 57 goals in just 25 league games so far this season.
“He [Ribeiro] will probably be elected Player of the Season with the stats he has. The numbers he has this season are amazing, on goals and assists and quality action. I think he’s a player that brings something different to the pitch,” Cardoso said after the match.
Qualifies for Player of the Season
“I’m happy to have him, and [him on the bench] was literally a question of managing [his minutes]. And I think now that people are choosing Player of the Season, it makes him want to show something he doesn’t need to show.
“Ribeiro has shown already a lot of times that it will come naturally [his form returning], for sure.”
Cardoso and his charges will be back in league action when they host Stellenbosch FC at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday.
They will then travel to East London in the Eastern Cape to entertain Chippa at the Buffalo City Municipality Stadium on Wednesday. This is a match that they could seal the league title with if they win against Stellies and the Chilli Boys.
