Latest news with #FootballeroftheSeason
The South African
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
Sundowns news: Irqaam Rayners and Lucas Ribeiro
Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana star Iqraam Rayners hasn't held back in voicing his frustration over the Premier Soccer League's Footballer of the Season nominees. The 29-year-old from Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, believes the selection was unfair, especially given his impressive stats — ranking second in combined goals and assists. Yet, the PSL chose Lucas Ribeiro, Sekhukhune United's Keletso Makgalwa, and Orlando Pirates' Relebohile Mofekeng ahead of him. With 22 goals and nine assists in the Betway Premiership, CAF Champions League, Carling Knockout, MTN8, and Nedbank Cup, Rayners was second best behind Lucas Ribeiro, who had 20 goals and 14 assists in the same competitions. However, the PSL's Footballer of the Season nominees listed Ribeiro, Keletso Makgalwa (six goals and 11 assists) and Relebohile Mofokeng (12 goals and 15 assists)… Full story here. Mamelodi Sundowns fans likely saw this coming — Lucas Ribeiro could be on his way out of the Betway Premiership just days before the new season kicks off. Mamelodi Sundowns haven't parted with a marquee player since Percy Tau's move to Brighton & Hove Albion in July 2018. But after a standout season with 21 goals and 14 assists — including the winning strike at the FIFA Club World Cup — Lucas Ribeiro has attracted serious interest. According to recent reports, the 26-year-old Brazilian has left Sundowns' preseason camp in Rustenburg as he prepares for a potential exit… Full story here. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Disappointed Rayners questions PSL awards snub
"I was disappointed when I saw the players they nominated," he said. Mamelodi Sundowns striker Iqraam Rayners is only nominated for the Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament. ©Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix Mamelodi Sundowns striker Iqraam Rayners has expressed his disappointment after being overlooked for the PSL Footballer of the Season and Players' Player of the Season awards, questioning the criteria used in the selection process. The 29-year-old forward enjoyed an impressive campaign, netting 14 goals in the Betway Premiership, just two fewer than teammate Lucas Ribeiro, who finished as the league's top scorer. Rayners also contributed nine assists, playing a key role as Sundowns clinched a record-extending eighth consecutive league title. WATCH – Pirates poke fun at Chiefs over MTN8 failure In addition to his league form, Rayners added four goals in the Carling Knockout Cup, including a brace against Kaizer Chiefs, bringing his total to 27 direct goal contributions across all domestic competitions. Despite his remarkable season, Rayners was left out of both award categories, with Ribeiro, Orlando Pirates sensation Relebohile Mofokeng, and resurgent Sekhukhune United midfielder Keletso Makgalwa making the final shortlist. Speaking on the club's Pitchside Podcast, Rayners did not hide his frustration about missing out on the two prestigious awards. 'For me, I'm a bit disappointed because of what I did last season. We have a good team that is helping me and the coaches also believe in me so I was disappointed when I saw the players they nominated. My stats from last season, I think it would have been good to be in a lot of nominations,' he said. 'I don't understand it (criteria) but I think the best player in the league for me was obviously Lucas Ribeiro. I think I'm second behind Lucas (goal) but other people don't look at it like that but for me my stats were second best and I was disappointed 'It's all about the team and when you're not in a position to score a goal and someone else is there, why don't you pass them because we're going to win together as a team. It's about team effort and people don't see what I see on the field but the team comes first besides the goals I score.' ALSO READ: Basadien targeting more silverware at Sundowns The PSL Awards will be broadcast live from 7pm on SABC Sport and SuperSport tonight. Rayners is only nominated for one award on the night, the Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament. He is up against Magesi FC duo Elvis Chipezeze and Edmore Chirambadare.
The South African
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
Disappointed Sundowns star sends message to the PSL?
Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana superstar Iqraam Rayners has been forced to be honest, and duly so. The 29-year-old Sundowns attacker from Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, feels the Premier Soccer League was unfair in listing the Footballer of the Season nominees. Despite the second-highest goals and assists output, the PSL nominated Lucas Ribeiro, Sekhukhune United's Keletso Makgalwa and Relebohile Mofekeng of Orlando Pirates. Transfer news: Orlando Pirates' decisions on 22 players Mamelodi Sundowns star Iqraam Rayners celebrates a goal against Stellenbosch FC at the Athlone Stadium in the Betway Premiership. Image: IOL With 22 goals and nine assists in the Betway Premiership, CAF Champions League, Carling Knockout, MTN8, and Nedbank Cup, Rayners was second best behind Lucas Ribeiro, who had 20 goals and 14 assists in the same competitions. Sundowns to announce two more players? However, the PSL's Footballer of the Season nominees listed Ribeiro, Keletso Makgalwa (six goals and 11 assists) and Relebohile Mofokeng (12 goals and 15 assists). 'Obviously I was disappointed when I saw the players they nominated,' Rayners said via Pitchside Podcast. 'Don't you think my stats were good enough to be among the nominees?' 'I think the best player for me in the league was Lucas, obviously. I'm second after Lucas. You know, other people don't see it like that… so obviously I was disappointed,' the Sundowns star added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Kekana backs Sundowns stars for top individual PSL awards
'I'd give it to Lucas Ribeiro for obvious reasons and what he has done in the previous season where he was untouchable,' Kekana said. Mamelodi Sundowns legend Hlompho Kekana has backed Lucas Ribeiro to scoop the top prize at the upcoming 2024-25 PSL Awards. (Picture: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix) Mamelodi Sundowns legend Hlompho Kekana has backed Lucas Ribeiro to scoop the top prize at the upcoming 2024-25 PSL Awards, set to take place on Tuesday evening. Sundowns' front-runner Ribeiro is the front-runner for the prestigious Footballer of the Season accolade following yet another standout campaign in the PSL. ALSO READ: Bayern agree deal to sign Liverpool winger Diaz: reports The Brazilian forward netted 16 goals to finish as the Betway Premiership's top scorer and played a key role in guiding Sundowns to an unprecedented eighth consecutive league title. He faces competition from Orlando Pirates sensation Relebohile Mofokeng and surprise finalist Keletso Makgalwa of Sekhukhune United. Kekana, who now works as an analyst for SABC Sport, believes Ribeiro's consistency and impact throughout the season gives the edge over the other two finalists who are also nominated for the Players' Player of the Season 'I'd give it to Lucas Ribeiro for obvious reasons and what he has done in the previous season where he was untouchable,' Kekana said on Radio 2000. 'I saw him in camp and I saw the amount of happiness to be around the boys, you can tell that he's now free and he can speak a little bit of English. 'He's a player that always wants to do well but last season he was untouchable and unmatched. You could tell that he was very good and played well for Sundowns.' Fiercely contested Another fiercely contested category is the Midfielder of the Season award, an accolade Kekana himself claimed at the end of the 2018/19 season. This year's nominees include Makhehlene Makhaula of Pirates, alongside Sundowns duo Marcelo Allende and Teboho Mokoena. 'Well, I'd love to see Marcelo Allende finally get rewarded because this is a boy that I believe performs consistently week in and week out with a level of maturity on how he approaches football matches,' Kekana concluded. 'Of course, he's not a fancy player. You have to know your football to understand and identify the good work that he's doing so I'd like to see him being awarded the midfielder of the season and see him winning it.' PSL Awards live on Tuesday The PSL Awards will be broadcast live from 7pm on SABC Sport and SuperSport, as South Africa's finest football talent takes centre stage. ALSO READ: Chiefs' Nabi remains positive despite Toyota Cup loss Last season, Ronwen Williams claimed the coveted Footballer of the Season prize, and fans across the country are waiting with bated breath to see who will be crowned the new king of the domestic game.
The South African
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs guaranteed ONE winner at PSL Awards
The 2024/25 PSL season was one – another one – to forget for Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs. Amakhosi finished ninth in what turned out to be a 15-team Betway Premiership and missed out – again – on qualifying for the lucrative MTN8 this season. The one shining light, however, was their 2-1 Nedbank Cup win over bitter rivals Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium back in May this year. The Glamour Boys were rewarded for that victory when the Premier Soccer League (PSL) announced the nominees for the 2024/25 PSL Awards later this month. The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, 29 July, at 19:00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL Channel and SABC Sport. In the Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament category, all three nominees – Inacio Miguel, Pule Mmodi, and Gaston Sirino – hail from Kaizer Chiefs. That means Kaizer Chiefs are guaranteed to go home with at least one accolade. Interestingly, the Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player category is dominated by Orlando Pirates , with nominations for Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota. Meanwhile, the prestigious Footballer of the Season award will be contested by Keletso Makgalwa (Sekhukhune United), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates), and Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns). All three players have also been nominated for the Betway Premiership Players' Player of the Season award, underlining their consistency and influence during the 2024/25 campaign. The nominees for the Betway Premiership Coach of the Season are Steve Barker (Stellenbosch FC), Miguel Cardoso (Mamelodi Sundowns), and Jose Riveiro (Orlando Pirates). In the Betway Premiership Young Player of the Season category, the shortlist includes Malibongwe Khoza (Mamelodi Sundowns), Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota (both Orlando Pirates). This year's awards also see the introduction of three new categories in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. Nominees for Players' Player of the Season are Banele Hlophe (JDR Stars), Joslin Kamatuka (Durban City FC), and Muzomuhle Khanyi (Hungry Lions). Luke Baartman (Cape Town Spurs), Teboho Lekhatla (Casric Stars), and Siphamandla Mhlongo (Milford FC) are shortlisted for Young Player of the Season, while Emile Lako (Casric Stars), Sekhoane Moerane (Orbit College), and Dumsani Msibi (Durban City FC) have been nominated for Goalkeeper of the Season. The MTN8 Last Man Standing nominees include Fawaaz Basadien (Stellenbosch FC), Deon Hotto and Relebohile Mofokeng (both Orlando Pirates), while the Magesi FC duo of Elvis Chipezeze and Edmore Chirambadare, along with Mamelodi Sundowns' Iqraam Rayners, are nominated for the Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament. The nominees for the DStv Diski Challenge Player of the Season are Gomolemo Kekana of Mamelodi Sundowns, Ntandoyenkosi Nkosi of Kaizer Chiefs, and Tylon Smith of Stellenbosch FC. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
