Monthly awards galore at the premiership
JOBURG – There was an award galore at the Premier Soccer League when various coaches and players were bestowed monthly accolades.
Mamelodi Sundown’s Pitso Mosimane and Gift Motupa of Bidvest Wits have been named the Absa Premiership Coach and Player of the Month for December respectively.
The coach and player were honoured after stellar performances in the Absa Premiership. Mosimane, who is no stranger to winning individual monthly accolades, took home the award for the first time in the 2019/20 Absa Premiership campaign.
In December, Mosimane guided Sundowns to victories over Stellenbosch FC and Polokwane City as well as playing to a 1–1 draw against fellow title chasers, Bidvest Wits.
He was chosen ahead of Bidvest Wits’ Gavin Hunt and Norman Mapeza of Chippa United by a panel of experts made up of commentators, analysts and former players.
The 55-year old coach was praised for his great player management and maintaining consistency in the league during a period when they travelled regularly out of the country for the Caf Champions League and also played in a domestic cup final.
Motupa claimed the Player of the Month award with two goals and an assist as Bidvest Wits won fixtures against Cape Town City FC and Lamontville Golden Arrows as well as drawing with Mamelodi Sundowns.
He has proven dependable for Wits as they juggle between domestic and continental football. This was the 25-year old’s first premiership individual monthly award.
Kaizer Chiefs’ scoring machine Samir Nurkovic was awarded the Goal of the Month award for December, for his clever strike against Bloemfontein Celtic.
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates coach, Josef Zinnbauer and in-form striker, Gabadinho Mhango scooped the Coach and Player of the Month awards for January respectively.
The German-born coach only joined the Buccaneers in December and has made an immediate impact, with the Soweto giants currently sitting in second place on the premiership log.
In the voting period, Zinnbauer (49) guided Pirates out of the woods with four wins out of five matches played. He beat opponents Polokwane City, Mamelodi Sundowns, Highlands Park and AmaZulu, with his team scoring 10 goals in the process.
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Zinnbauer was commended for resuscitating a collapsed Buccaneers and instilling an exciting and fearless style of play into a side that has also seen an improvement of their previously leaky defence.
The Buccaneers went unbeaten throughout January and partly thanks to the six goals in five matches from striker, Gabadinho Mhango. The Malawian kicked off the month with a hat-trick away to Polokwane City and then secured wins over champions Sundowns and Highlands Park.
His terrific scoring form in January has seen him score 14 goals this season so far, making him the leading goalscorer going into the final stretch of the league. All the winners pocketed R5 000 each for their exploits.
