THE OUTSIDERS

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Two-time Premier Soccer League Footballer-of-the-Season winner Teko Modise (pictured) has put his money on Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana to win the league’s most prestigious award for 2017/18.

Modise, who currently plays his football for Cape Town City FC, was in the prime of his career when he won the award back to back in 2008 and 2009, while playing for Orlando Pirates.

Following the announcement of the nominees at the PSL headquarters in Parktown, Johannesburg yesterday, former SuperSport United, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder believes Kekana, who has been nominated for the same award for three years in a row now, deserves to walk away with the accolade when the winners are announced at the Sandton Convention Centre on May 29.

“You can see he has been consistent in his performances, which is why he’s been nominated for the third time. I think he deserves it,” said Modise, who is affectionately known as “The General”.

Kekana is nominated alongside his team-mate Percy Tau, as well as Maritzburg United midfielder Siphesihle Ndlovu.

Both Tau and Ndlovu have also been nominated for the Players’ Player-of-the-Season gong, along with Orlando Pirates midfielder Musa Nyatama. The winner of this category is voted for by players from the 16 teams in the league and Modise says that alone makes it a special award.

“It will be a very tough one looking at how well all the players in this category have been performing in their respective teams. Tau has been great, I have seen him grow from my days when I was still at Sundowns.

“I can see his growth, but there is still some aspect of his game he needs to work on. There is also Nyatama and Ndlovu, and again, they have both been fantastic. This award is also special because it is voted for by every player in the league.”