The end of every season is a time to take stock, identify the sinners and saints, award the best, and prepare for the next season.
In dishing out the best awards, who were the biggest winners? Mamelodi Sundowns come up trumps in almost every category as winning a fourth consecutive title is not an ordinary feat.
Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has, however, come up with praise singing of one of his wards. He was effusive in his praise of Peter Shalulile and the quality the young lad brings to the squad.
There were stars this season, but Shalulile shone brightest and at the PSL awards walked away with the PSL Footballer of the Season and DStv Premiership Player’s Player of the Season.
Shalulile scored 15 goals this season to finish 2nd topscorer, a goal shy of eventual golden boot winner, Bradley Grobler. Despite not finishing as top scorer, his quality all season is undeniable. He was instrumental to the Brazilians winning the title almost at a canter. This is probably why Mngqithi describes the Namibian as the revelation of the season.
“He is one of the biggest revelations for the club. As much as I don’t want to single him out and say he is the best signing and all that, the numbers and everything shows that he delivered to the expectations of the club, even though I believe he could have done more,” said Mngqithi.
“More than that, the lessons we learned from Peter Shalulile, which all players should have learned, is his high level of professionalism.
Shalulile was described as a team player who leaves everything on the pitch and a consummate professional.
“He’s a very selfless individual, somebody who works for the team, gives everything to the team and for that, I regard him highly and whatever he has achieved in football is at the back of the person he is.
“At training, he is never late. Every day he gives his best, even when things are going well for him after scoring a few goals, he still fights very hard to do more than the people who didn’t do better in the previous match.
Shalulile was not the only winner on the night. His teammates were also amongst the winners as they both walked away with a combined R550 000 in prize money.