Hlatshwayo’s eye glued on one award
Wits’ skipper hopes it will be third time lucky
Thulani Hlatshwayo has been nominated for three PSL awards, but there’s one that he would really like to get his hands on.
Having first missed out to Tefu Mashamaite (2014/2015) and then Thabo Nthethe (2015/2016), the Bidvest Wits captain is hoping it will be third time lucky when the name of the 2016/2017 Absa Premiership defender of the season is revealed. That’s the award he would be more than happy to walk away with at the upcoming PSL awards on July 10.
“I am nominated for defender of the season, [MTN8] last man standing and the footballer of the season.
Personally, there’s only one award that I am looking forward to, which is the defender of the season,” said Hlatshwayo, who was named Wits’ player and players’ player of the season at their awards evening in Kyalami, Johannesburg, on Wednesday.
“It’s been emotional for me. It’s really hard to be a defender because you are faced with creative and talented players and you have to contain them.
“I was nominated [for defender of the season] and I lost to Mashamaite. I was nominated again and I lost to Thabo Nthethe, but I kept going because I knew what I wanted. I hope this time I win it.”
Hlatshwayo is finally getting the recognition he deserves. Having come through from Ajax Cape Town, he has grown tremendously as a player. You could see how much the awards he won on Wednesday meant to him, as he thanked the people who have played a big role in his career.
Hlatshwayo’s fellow defenders Buhle Mkhwanazi and Sifiso Hlanti were given the chairman’s award and the coach’s award respectively.