Sundowns co-coaches, Shalulile bag PSL monthly awards

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) on Wednesday announced the winners of the monthly awards.

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Mamelodi Sundowns co-coaches Manqoba Mnqgithi and Rhulani Mokwena and striker Peter Shalulile were voted the DStv Premiership Coach and Player of the Month for August/September respectively.

Mnqgithi and Mokwena, beat Royal AM’s John Maduka and SuperSport United’s Kaitano Tembo to the award, having overseen five wins, with one draw in their side’s opening six games, scoring 11 goals with their defence still to be breached.

“They got the nod for their consistency in getting positive results despite being faced with negative results in their camp at the start of the season. The league-winning coaches have also impressively created amazing continuity within the team in the new season by getting new recruits to gel and play the Brazilians style of play such as Grant Kekana, Thabiso Kutumela and Neo Maema,” read a statement issued by the League.

Shalulile has been in red-hot form since the start of this campaign, scoring five goals in the opening six league matches, contributing close to half the number of goals (11) scored by Sundowns in the league to date.

“His contribution upfront has kept the champions atop the log standings since the opening day of the season. In making their decision, the judging panel composed of football print, online and broadcast media, commentators and analysts, were hugely impressed with Shalulile’s work rate in also helping out his side defensively, the remarkable timing of his runs upfront and of course the goals he scored.

“The Namibian forward beat other great performing players such as Victor Letsoalo of Royal AM and team-mates Rivaldo Coetzee and Denis Onyango to the award,” added the PSL statement.

Meanwhile, the DStv Premiership Goal of the Month for August/September went to Orlando Pirates’ Deon Hotto for his stunning free kick against Stellenbosch FC.

For their awards, Shalulile, Hotto and the co-coaches will receive a trophy and R7 000 courtesy of league sponsors, DStv.