It was yet another season where the big boys of Soweto in Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates did not come to the party, giving Mamelodi Sundowns a run for their money, literally and figuratively.
Sundowns continued their dominance by clinching their seventh successive league title and are on the cusp of completing the season without tasting defeat in the league.
As tepid and not so exciting as the 2023–24 Premiership season was, there were some admirable moments, such as the unleashing of young talent, unbeaten records being broken, and the electrifying five-goal thriller in the Soweto derby between Pirates and Chiefs.
With the season now in its penultimate stage, the debate around the potential Footballer of the Season and Young Player of the Season, among other accolades, is heating up.
Sunday World looks at some of the potential candidates and front runners for the PSL individual honours:
Player of the Season
Patrick Maswanganyi: “Tito, Tito, Tito” has been the most popular chant this season and that is solely because Patrick Maswanganyi has been phenomenal for Orlando, playing the brand of football admired by SA football fans.
His flamboyant dribbles were accompanied by goals and assists, which proved to be crucial for the Bucs this season.
Ronwen Williams: For any league around the world, it is rare to find a goalkeeper being thrust into Player of the Season contention.
Williams has stood out this season with his performances in the league and heroics for Bafana Bafana in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Sundowns shot stopper has been unbelievable between the sticks with his penalty saves and is right up the pecking order as one of the standout players this season.
Lucas Ribeiro: The Brazilian, who had a brilliant season for the Brazilians, could not have asked for a better debut season in the PSL.
Ribeiro is not only a league champion but a contender for the golden boot with 12 goals. He stepped up when Rhulani Mokwena needed him to take over the goal scoring responsibility over Peter Shalulile.
Iqraam Rayners: Returning to Stellenbosch is probably the best decision Rayners ever took in his career, as he now finds himself part of the ‘Player of the Season’ talk and possibly in some boardrooms.
Rayners has netted 14 goals so far and earlier in the season, they steered Stellies to victory in the Carling Knockout trophy.
Young Player of the Season
Relebohile Mofokeng: The 19-year-old Pirates wonderkid is having a season of his life at Pirates and has set the bar high for his fellow youngsters.
It goes without saying that Mofokeng is the searing favourite to clinch the ‘Young player of the Season’ crown.
Ime Okon: The SuperSport United defender burst into the scene out of nowhere and has become the talk of the town in SA and possibly Nigeria, where his father hails from.
The dual-citizen youngster has been solid in Gavin Hunt’s backline and has a bright future ahead of him.
Chandre Campbell: He is another SuperSport young sensation that came out of nowhere and set the PSL scene alight with his blistering pace and ability to take on defenders.
Campbell has also been one of the crucial players for Hunt in his young, inexperienced squad.
Coach of the Season
Rulani Mokwena: Despite Sundowns falling short once again in the CAF Champions League under his watch, it goes without saying that Mokwena is a serial winner and has changed the entire complexion of the league and possibly SA football.
Sundowns have not only been a dominant force but have also been dishing out ravishing football; breaking records left, right and centre.
Steve Barker: Who would have thought that a team from the Cape Winelands would ever be a force to be reckoned with in South African football?
Since taking over in 2017, season after season, Stellenbosch has shown immense improvement under Barker.
Fast forward, Barker guided Stellies to make history by winning the inaugural Carling Knockout and will be playing in continental club competitions, whether in the Champions League or the Confederation Cup Africa next season.
Jose Riveiro: Riveiro is only in his second full season at the Pirates, and the Spaniard has already bagged three trophies – the MTN 8 and the Nedbank Cup.
Riveiro has already defended his MTN8 crown and is one step away from defending the Nedbank Cup after setting up a date with Sundowns in the final next month.
