Ncikazi Questions Footballer Of The Season Criteria

Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has questioned the criteria used that led to Teboho Mokoena winning the PSL Footballer of the Season.

He hinted that his player, Monnapule Saleng, who was nominated for the same award alongside Ronwen Williams, had scored more goals than Mokoena and had more assists too.  

The former Golden Arrows coach, who was vying for the Coach of the Season in 2020/21 season, said those who are in charge of the criteria for the different award must be more clear to avoid confusion.

The Footballer of the Season award is voted by all 16 DStv Premiership coaches, and in this case Pirates coach Jose Riveiro was the one who voted on behalf of the Soweto giants, but none of them can vote for their own player at the Bucs. The player with the most votes from the DStv Premiership coaches walks away with the award and in 2022/23 it was Teboho Mokoena.

The Players’ Player of the Season, which went to Saleng, is voted for by the players in the DStv Premiership, with each club allowed a maximum of 30 players to vote and no player is allowed to vote for their own teammates.

“My opinion about awards, I respect my fellow coaches a lot and Mokoena is a good player and his effort was there for everyone to see,” said Ncikazi to SABC radio station Ukhozi FM.

“I don’t want to sound like Pirates are having an issue with the success of Sundowns players, it’s not like that.

“Those who create confusion are the judges. In my own opinion, going forward, they must be clear which criteria is used to choose the player.

“I’ll make an example, if people see that Saleng has 11 goals in the league, has eight assists, but the player he was fighting with had one goal and one assist in the Premiership, they must be clear with the criteria, with the metrics used so that we do know that made Mokoena be the best player over Saleng.”

Ncikazi also stated that he thought Pirates centre-back Nkosinathi Sibisi would walk away with the DStv Premiership Defender of the Season award, which was won by Khuliso Mudau.

“People who are causing confusion are judges. I know Nkosinathi Sibisi has how many Man of the Matches, so does Saleng, Mokoena, but make it clear what criteria was used,” he added.

“I don’t have a problem that Sundowns players won these awards, it is the competition we are in, others will win and others will not.

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“I thought Sibisi was going to be the Defender of the Season, in my own eyes, but if he’s not the Defender of the Season, they must be clear if they used A B or C. The confusion is with the judges.”