Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has been honoured as Coach of the Month a record six times this season.
Mosimane and Downs player Khama Billiat added to the celebrations of their Absa Premiership championship triumph by winning the final Absa Premiership Coach and Player of the Month awards for the 2015/16 season. They accepted their awards at Absa’s headquarters in Johannesburg when Sundowns visited the league’s sponsors as part of their champion’s tour.
Victories over University of Pretoria, Bidvest Wits and Platinum Stars in May secured the Brazilians a points tally record of 71 in the Premier Soccer League during a season of complete dominance over their rivals, winning the title with a 14-point gap ahead of nearest rivals, Wits.
The Player and Coach of the Month are selected by a panel of judges made up of members of the media and football analysts. They once again praised Mosimane for the manner in which he had been able to keep his squad fresh, for selecting a consistent lineup, and for his management of a large squad. He was also commended for ensuring that his side continued to play an attractive brand of football, even after having been confirmed as league champions.
Mosimane was also singled out for having a strong technical team, with all units collaborating extremely efficiently in the run-in to the title.
Chippa United coach Dan Malesela, who is a former Downs player, and Serame Letsoaka of Bloemfontein Celtic, also received special mentions from the judges for their efforts during the month of May.
Billiat was the overwhelming winner from a strong seven-player shortlist which included his teammates Hlompo Kekana, Thabo Nthete and Dennis Onyango, Thami Sangweni from Chippa United, the Bloemfontein Celtic duo of Lyle Lakay and Thapelo Morena as well as Gabadinho Mhango of Golden Arrows.
Billiat, the skillful Zimbabwean attacking midfielder, a candidate for Footballer of the Season, provided three assists on the night Sundowns clinched the league title at AmaTuks on 11 May. He also scored two goals in the last two matches of the season. The judges praised him for his consistent, intelligent play and felt he was head and shoulders above his peers.
