Michaelson Ntokozo Gumede

By Ntokozo Gumede

Journalist


Mbule banking on club success to win PSL Young Player of the Year 

Mbule is in good standing to walk away with the Young Player of the Season at the end of the campaign.


SuperSport United’s Sipho Mbule has been a marvel to watch this season both in the colours of Matsatsantsa A Pitori and in the national Under-23 team, which qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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Looking at his contribution so for on the domestic front, Mbule is in good standing to walk away with the Young Player of the Season at the end of the campaign as the 21-year-old has risen head and shoulders above his peers in this first half of the season. 

Mbule believes that if United can do well in the Absa Premiership – where they are second on the log behind Kaizer Chiefs – and have some success in cup competitions as they have won the MTN8 and are left with the Nedbank Cup to fight for, he will be in good standing to win the Young Player award.   

“What I have to focus on right now is that the team has to do well and win trophies. If the team can do well I think that can give me a great platform to be the contender for Young Player of the Season. By the look of things, if I become consistent and score more goals more often and improve I will be a strong contender, not just a contender,” said Mbule. 

The skilful midfielder was one the stars on David Notoane’s U23 side that finished third in the junior Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt last month. He has said the level of football and culture that South Africa has is quite different to African counterparts.  

“The kind of football that we play and how other countries are playing is not the same. They are more competitive and more physical. The referees won’t always be on your side and what I have learnt is not to bank a lot on the referees,” said Mbule, who looks forward to United’s league tie against Highlands Park on Friday in Pretoria. 

“It is not going to be an easy game because we played against them in the MTN8 final. We prepared well for the final and I think if we can prepare the same against them on Friday we will have [a] good chance of winning the game.” 

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