POOR OLD TEKO! The full-list of PSL nominations: expect Mamelodi Sundowns to dominate (and why no Golden Boot should be awarded)

Award-winning performance: Pitso Mosimane and Teko Modise

Poor old Teko Modise. After all those years of missing out on his PSL Championship medal the man who inspired Mamelodi Sundowns’ miraculous title triumph this summer finds himself left off the short-list for the PSL Footballer of the Season.

With six goals and three Man of the Match awards as Masandawana closed in and overtook faltering Kaizer Chiefs, “The General” finds himself over-looked with his captain, Dutchman Alje Schut, Wits University’s Sibusiso Vilakazi and AmaKhosi destroyer Willard Katsande the chosen three.

But he won’t mind too much. Modise has already won the award twice – when he was lighting up the midfield at Orlando Pirates in 2008 and 2009. But without him, clearly the nominations are flawed. Schut has had a great season, but he doesn’t sparkle or score visionary goals like Modise did to see off SuperSport and claim the title last Tuesday. Morgan Gould was the last defender to win it - with champions SuperSport United in 2010 - so there IS a precedent for Schut.

And though “Assault and Vinegar” Katsande has made even more crunching tackles than he’s had yellow cards, Vilakazi – with a Nedbank Cup final to come – has to be the favourite now. With eight goals from midfield, Gavin Hunt has been singing his praises all season.

PREVIOUS PSL FOOTBALLER OF THE SEASON WINNERS:

2012-13         Itumeleng Khune                  Kaizer Chiefs            GK       South Africa

2011-12         Siyabonga Nomvethe            Moroka Swallows      FW      South Africa

2010-11         Thulani Serero                     Ajax Cape Town         MF       South Africa

2009-10         Morgan Gould                       Supersport United     DF       South Africa

2008-09         Teko Modise                         Orlando Pirates          MF       South Africa

2007-08         Teko Modise                         Orlando Pirates          MF       South Africa

Then there’s the Players’ Player of the Season. Teko gets the nod for this one, voted for by his peers, along with Vilakazi and Katsande. In the Premier League, Luis Suarez did the double with both top awards this season – I guess Teko will have to accept just one, though whether his fellow professionals agree, I can’t say. Both Vilakazi and Katsande have emerged as strong contenders, but I'd offer this to Modise... his lack of fortune in leaving SuperSport (before they won three PSLs on the trot) and Orlando Pirates (before they won the two trebles) says it HAS to be Teko!

PREVIOUS PSL PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE SEASON WINNERS:

2012-13         Itumeleng Khune      Kaizer Chiefs  GK       South Africa

2011-12         Siyabonga Nomvethe           Moroka Swallows      FW      South Africa

2010-11         Thulani Serero           Ajax Cape Town         MF       South Africa

2009-10         Katlego Mphela         Mamelodi Sundowns FW      South Africa

2008-09         Teko Modise   Orlando Pirates          MF       South Africa

2007-08         Itumeleng Khune      Kaizer Chiefs  GK       South Africa

2006-07         Godfrey Sapula          Mamelodi Sundowns MF       South Africa

2005-06         Surprise Moriri           Mamelodi Sundowns MF       South Africa

2004-05         Sandile Ndlovu          Dynamos        FW      South Africa

2003-04         Tinashe Nengomasha           Kaizer Chiefs  MF       Zimbabwe

2002-03         Moeneeb Josephs     Ajax Cape Town         GK       South Africa

2001-02         Jabu Pule       Kaizer Chiefs  MF       South Africa

2000-01         Benjani Mwaruwari   Jomo Cosmos            FW      Zimbabwe

1999-00         Siyabonga Nomvethe           Kaizer Chiefs  FW      South Africa

1998-99         Roger Feutmba    Mamelodi Sundowns MF       Cameroon

1997-98         Raphael Chukwu       Mamelodi Sundowns FW      Nigeria

1996-97         Wilfred Mugeyi          Bush Bucks    FW      Zimbabwe

The Coach of the Season award sees Pitso Mosimane, Clive Barker and Stuart Baxter nominated. Clearly, Pitso’s title triumph will be the dominating factor. Sure, he’s backed by the billions of Patrice Motsepe, but Dutch master Johan Neeskens and Bristling Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov both failed to hit the top before him as Masandawana endured their seven-year drought.

Quite why Baxter, a double loser this season, gets the nod ahead of Allan Freese and Roger de Sa, I’m not sure.

Without a contract, Freese took unfashionable Platinum Stars to the MTN8 and TelkomKO finals - and won them both in his first season in charge.

De Sa took Pirates to the African Champions League final – not to mention the last hurdle of the MTN8 and TelkomKO – before decamping to Ajax. Old Dog Barker has achieved miracles at promoted Mpumalanga Black Aces after a record 35 signings this season, but the 69-year-old knows Pitso is more deserving this season.

Still, Pitso MUST win it, no matter who else is nominated.

Keagan Dolly has to be Young Player of the Season – called up (and mysteriously dropped) by Bafana Bafana, he has attracted rave reviews all season at Ajax Cape Town.

Respect is due to Hlompho Kekana, his rasper for Sundowns against Pirates in February will surely earn Goal of the Season, while last year’s all-conquering Itumeleng Khune is nominated for Goalkeeper of the Season, which could also go to Wits’ former Pirate Moeneeb Josephs. Slim Kat's penalty-saving heroics saw his side to the Nedbank Cup final, and surely Khune - injured and far from perfect this season - has won enough?

The Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot as PSL top-scorer looks destined for Bernard Parker, with a modest 10 goals. But given that he hasn’t scored – even from the spot – since February, perhaps it should be melted down and handed out again next season to a more deserving candidate.

The table below lists all top scorers, with the current 30-game format adopted in 2002. Barring miracles, Parker's tally will the the LOWEST EVER in the PSL.


PREVIOUS PSL TOP SCORERS

1996–97              Wilfred Mugeyi                22           Bush Bucks         

1997–98              Daniel Mudau                  24           Sundowns           

1998–99              Pollen Ndlanya                 21           Orlando Pirates 

1999–00              Dennis Lota                      18           Orlando Pirates  

2000–01              Gilbert Mushangazhike      19           Manning Rangers           

2001–02              Ishmael Maluleke              18           Manning Rangers           

2002–03              Lesley Manyathela            18           Orlando Pirates 

2003–04              Jackie Ledwaba                14           Zulu Royals        

2004–05              Collins Mbesuma               25           Kaizer Chiefs      

2005–06              Mame Niang                     14           Swallows             

2006–07              Chris Katongo                   15           Jomo Cosmos     

2007–08              James Chamanga               14           Swallows            

2008–09              Richard Henyekane           19           Golden Arrows   

2009–10              Katlego Mphela                17           Sundowns           

2010–11              Knowledge Musona          15           Kaizer Chiefs      

2011–12              Siyabonga Nomvethe        20           Moroka Swallows            

2012–13              Katlego Mashego             13          Moroka Swallows

2013-14              Bernard Parker                 10          Kaizer Chiefs             

The full list of 2014 nominations:

PSL Footballer of the Season

Alje Schut
Sibusiso Vilakazi
Willard Katsande

PSL Players' Player of the Season

Sibusiso Vilakazi
Teko Modise
Willard Katsande

PSL Young Player of the Season

Abbubaker Mobara
Gabadinho Mhango
Keagan Dolly

PSL Goalkeeper of the Season

Annsi Jaakkola
Itumeleng Khune
Moeneeb Josephs

PSL Goal of the Season

Hlompho Kekana
Knowledge Musona
Puleng Tlolane

PSL Coach of the Season

Clive Barker
Pitso Mosimane
Stuart Baxter

MTN8 Last Man Standing

Lennox Bacela
Robert Ng'ambi
Vuyo Mere

Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament

Lennox Bacela
Mogakolodi Ngele
Robert Ng'ambi

Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament

Jabulani Shongwe
Oupa Manyisa
Sibusiso Vilakazi

Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player of the Tournament

Kwanda Mngonyama
Thabo Moloi
Vincent Pule