Top awards for yellow machine’s coach and player
JOBURG - Pitso Mosimane has claimed back-to-back Absa Premiership Coach of the Month awards for January and February after he guided his Mamelodi Sundowns outfit to a faultless start to the second round of the league campaign.
He was joined on the podium by his prolific midfielder, Hlompho Kekana, who won the Player of the Month for February, while his counterpart at Kaizer Chiefs, Willard Katsande, was named Player of the Month for January.
Mosimane, whose name has become synonymous with the Absa Premiership monthly awards this season, steered his side to some memorable victories over University of Pretoria, SuperSport United, Maritzburg United, Chippa United, Free State Stars, Orlando Pirates and Mpumalanga Black Aces during the January to February period.
In the process, the Brazilians scored 19 goals that have seen them currently lead the standings with 52 points after 23 games, four points ahead of their nearest rivals, Bidvest Wits.
Mosimane won the award ahead of Bidvest Wits’ Gavin Hunt and Cavin Johnson of Platinum Stars. The judges heaped praise on Mosimane in terms of how he set out his team to play an attractive style of football, the extraordinary performance his team displayed over the two months since the turn of the year and the manner in which he coached his team to bring the best out of them.
Katsande’s efforts were recognised for his consistent display as the grafter in the heart of the Kaizer Chiefs midfield and being the source of goals for his side during January. The Zimbabwean narrowly beat Colombian and Sundowns striker, Leonardo Castro and his teammate Keegan Dolly, and Mpumalanga Black Aces marksman, Collins Mbesuma, to the award.
Kekana, the hard tackling Sundowns anchorman played an integral role during Sundowns’ impressive winning streak in the Absa Premiership in February. He scored once, provided a couple of assists and became the shield that protected the Sundowns defence.
Kekana’s display in Sundowns’ incredible title-chasing run in February had the judges convinced that he had been the unsung hero and leader of the star-studded team.
He was also singled out for continuing to hold things tight in midfield despite the loss to injury of his midfield partner Bongani ‘Ben 10’ Zungu. His impressive performances also earned Kekana a recall to the South African national team set up in which he went on to score a cracker of a goal against Cameroon.
