ON PSL’S BEST PERFORMERS
TIMES Media selects our top 11 Premier Soccer League players of 2014 . . .
Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax Cape Town) Coetzee’s elevation from Ajax Cape Town’s development structures to become, at the time, the youngest ever Bafana Bafana international was both rapid and deserved. The defender showed a maturity well beyond his years and became a crucial cog for both Ajax and the national side on their way to the 2015 African Nations Cup finals. Nhlanhla Khuzwayo
(Kaizer Chiefs) A long-term injury to regular number one Itumeleng Khune afforded Khuzwayo the opportunity to show his quality, and to say he has not disappointed is an understatement.
He has done so well that Khune must bide his time on the sidelines now he is fit again, something that would have been unthinkable just a few months ago. At the time of writing, Khuzwayo had conceded just seven goals in 15 appearances in 2014, pulling off some stunning saves. If Khune does leave Naturena at the end of the season, Chiefs have an able replacement. Reneilwe Letsholonyane
(Kaizer Chiefs) “Yeye” has been sensational this year and is the driving force in the Chiefs’ engine room, with his dynamic play and, more recently, eye for the goal.
He has done so well that he persuaded national team coach Shakes Mashaba to ditch his Vi- sion 2022 principles and call Letsholonyane into the Bafana squad for the final four African Nations Cup qualifiers. Willard Katsande gets through lots of work in the Chiefs midfield, but Letsholonyane is “all action” as he glides from box-to-box.
Oupa Manyisa (Orlando Pirates) Manyisa will probably never win major awards because the work he does in the Orlando Pirates midfield goes unnoticed, but his consistency of performance, stamina and the desire he brings to each and every game is remarkable.
He almost always finds the right ball and doesn’t waste possession, and has become a regular under Mashaba in the Bafana squad too. At the time of writing, he had played 51 games in the 2014 calendar year for Pirates, failing to complete the 90 minutes just once. Tefu Mashamaite (Kaizer Chiefs) Mashamaite is one half of an excellent central defensive partnership for Chiefs that has allowed them to go on a remarkable run of form since April.
While Erick Mathoho provides more of a physical presence and has been excellent himself, Mashamaite is a steadying influence in the back- four and a leader who keeps the team organised and in shape.
He has also chipped in with a couple of crucial goals, including a winner in the 2014 MTN8 final against bitter rivals Pirates. Buhle Mkhwanazi (University of Pretoria – BidVest Wits) Wits paid big money for Mkhwanazi when they prised him away from University of Pretoria ahead of the 2014-15 season. They shelled out a reported R7-million on the 24-year-old, who had showed at AmaTuks just what a consistent performer he was in the PSL. He does perhaps collect a few more yellow cards than he should – 12 in the 2014 calendar year is high, but that is something he will likely work out of his game with experience.
Teko Modise (Mamelodi Sundowns) As Mamelodi Sundowns powered to the 2013-14 Absa Premiership title, the driving force behind that was a rejuvenated Modise, who turned back the clock to put in some sparkling displays that showed why he was at one stage the hottest property in the PSL. He displayed swagger and skill, chipping in with a number of important goals too as the rest of the Sundowns side seemed to feed off his brilliance.
He has continued that good form this season in a Sundowns side that has yet to fire on all cylinders.
Tendai Ndoro (Mpumalanga Black Aces) Zimbabwean striker Ndoro signed for Black Aces from Chicken Inn in his homeland and debuted in February, making an immediate impact as AmaZayoni qualified for the top eight.
The 26-year-old forward, who competes with veterans Collins Mbesuma and Mabhuti Khenyeza for a place in the side, is one of the best finishers in the PSL and is among the leading scorers in the league this season.
Puleng Tlolane (Polokwane City) Tlolane emerged from nowhere to grab headlines last season with seven goals in a struggling Polokwane City side.
He has shown himself to be a top talent and was rewarded with a call-up for Bafana Bafana against Ivory Coast last month. He has been a key part of the City revival under Kosta Papic, con- tributing not just with goals of his own but also creating ones for others.
How long he will remain at City is anybody’s guess, but he is likely to get snapped up by a bigger club sooner rather than later. Sibusiso Vilakazi (BidVest Wits) Vilakazi’s 11 goals from midfield for BidVest Wits in 2014 is a superb return from a player who is perhaps the most improved in the PSL over the past 18 months.
He has always been a player of great potential, but now he is starting to fulfil that prodigious talent and has also emerged as a fine leader with the Clever Boys.
He is a player of great intelligence and a midfielder for coach Gavin Hunt to build his side around. A move to Europe is probably not too far down the line for the 24-year-old.
Themba Zwane (Mpumalanga Black Aces-Mamelodi Sundowns) There are few better passers of the ball in the PSL than Zwane, who showed last season while on loan at Mpumalanga Black Aces that he has the ability to win games almost on his own.
AmaZayoni coach Clive Barker loves “talking up” the ability of his team, but bestowed a great honour on Zwane when he said in February that the 25-year-old was the best player he had ever coached, greater even than the likes of Doctor Khumalo.
Zwane returned to Sundowns for the 2014-15 season and has continued to shine, though he is not helped by Pitso Mosimane’s rotation policy that has seen him in and out of the team.