Maswanganyi clear candidate for player of the season: Riveiro

As the Premier Soccer League season draws to a close, the debate on who should be crowned PSL Footballer of the Season intensifies.

Orlando Pirates coach, Jose Riveiro, firmly believes that Patrick Maswanganyi is a clear contender for the coveted accolade.

Maswanganyi, who joined the Buccaneers at the beginning of the season from SuperSport United, has been in dazzling form recently, which has seen him score nine goals and provide 10 assists in his 34 appearances in all competitions this season.

Yesterday, he produced yet another Man of the Match performance in Pirate’s 4-0 drubbing of Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium in KZN, where he also scored a penalty.

When quizzed about Maswanganyi’s chances of winning the award, Riveiro said the love that the 26-year-old has been receiving from the fans is testament to his performances on the field.

Meanwhile, last week Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Rhulani Mokwena, suggested that his goalkeeper Ronwen Williams should win the award.

Mokwena says the Bafana Bafana skipper has been “head and shoulders” above the rest this season.

“I think there’s been an unorthodox frontrunner and that’s Ronwen Williams,” said Mokwena.

“It’s unorthodox because we normally don’t consider goalkeepers to receive such awards, normally. I’m talking by football culture, worldwide – that’s why they started creating individual awards like the Golden Glove for the goalkeeper.”

“Really, it’s an award that very seldom goes to the goalkeeper, but when I look at Ronwen’s contribution this season to Sundowns, not just only as a goalkeeper but also on infield play, in possession in the way he tries to do things, I think he’s been head and shoulders, and from a level of consistency, he’s been head and shoulders above the rest,” Mokwena added.