Mamelodi Sundowns star Lyle Lakay says he wants his DStv Premiership Defender of the Season award to inspire him to do better next season and with Bafana Bafana.
Lakay broke back into the Bafana set-up under Hugo Broos after a stellar season he had with Sundowns which also saw him being awarded the top honour at the recent Premier Soccer League awards.
The attacking full-back finished the season with the highest goal contribution than any other defender in the league and helped his Sundowns side clinch a domestic treble this past season but he admits that it’s something he would not have achieved without the help of the star-studded Brazilians squad and technical team.
“Personal awards are good but for me, I’m more of a team player. Obviously, if I get personal awards it’s a reflection of the team also, if the team achieves and the team wins trophies then the personal awards will come afterwards,” he told Bafana Bafana media.
“And then coming to the awards it was a surprise for me to be nominated because usually, they nominate central defenders for defender of the season. So I was a bit surprised to be nominated, I think my numbers the goals and assists, and the clean sheets that we kept as a team contributed to me winning the award.
“It inspires me on, and also the fact that you know I set myself a target every season so I equal last season’s tally which is a good thing and like you say now does it motivates me and stuff like that, I would take it as motivation for me to do even better next season.
“To be honest I really don’t think it really sunk In because I haven’t really had time to reflect on the season because straight after the season we had to come into Bafana. But maybe when I’m done here with the camp I will go home and reflect on the season then maybe it will hit me, but I’m hoping to use it as motivation and do better next season.”
Lakay netted four goals and registered nine assists in 40 games across all competitions for Sundowns and will now be looking to add to his two senior international caps.
