Mamelodi Sundowns’ yellow machine rakes in the PSL accolades

The Mamelodi Sundowns trio of coach Pitso Mosimane, ace striker Percy Tau and the evergreen skipper Hlompho Kekana have added more awards to their already overflowing trophy cabinets.

Mosimane, the Premier Soccer League Coach of the Year for 2017 and African Coach of Year after winning the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Champions League and the Super Cup in 2017, was named Absa Premiership Coach for the Month of December.

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Tau, who is in devastating form, was chosen as the Player of the Month of December while his evergreen captain who leads by example on and off the field, Kekana, was awarded the Goal of the Month.

The Soweto-born coach has steered Masandawa, as the Brazilians are affectionately known to their faithful supporters, to the top of the log standings with an impressive four victories out of the five games they played in December.

The seven-time premiership champions amassed 12 points at the expense of Golden Arrows, Bloemfontein Celtic, Maritzburg United and Baroka FC, though Mosimane’s well-oiled yellow machine lost to Cape

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Town City. In this period, Downs scored 10 goals and only conceded twice.

Mosimane edged out fellow coaches Luc Eymael of Free State Stars and Fadlu Davids of Maritzburg United for the accolade.

Tau, who is no stranger to the individual monthly awards, once again graced the stage at the Premier Soccer League offices to accept his award. The 23-year-old was selected by a panel of judges made up of broadcasters, analysts and local football legends who overwhelmingly gave him the nod for the best performer on the field during the month.

This was ahead of Bloemfontein Celtic’s Victor Letswalo, the Maritzburg United duo of Lebo Maboe and Siphesihle Ndlovu, as well as teammate Dennis Onyango. Tau was singled out for having scored four goals in five games

including providing an assist, and the manner in which he carried the team on his young shoulders as Downs turned the corner after a difficult start to the season.

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Kekana’s stunning goal against Orlando Pirates won him his award. The Downs captain produced yet another brilliantly-taken goal to add to his catalogue of stunning strikes. The central midfielder scored the second goal in his side’s 3-1 away victory against their rivals at the Orlando Stadium.

The winning monthly goal was chosen as the best by football supporters who picked their favourite strike through the league’s website.