Sundowns takes all in DStv Premiership Monthly Awards
JOBURG -– The regning Premier Soccer League Footballer of the Season Peter Shalulile could well be on the road to retain his title as well and become the first player to defend it.
Mamelodi Sundowns has started the 2021/22 DStv Premiership season just like how they ended the previous one – firing on all cylinders. And if they can keep up the momentum, the Yellow Machine could be destined to retain their premiership title for the fifth time in a row.
It came as no surprise when the Brazilians forward Peter Shalulile and co-coaches Manqoba Mnqgithi and Rhulani Mokwena, were voted the DStv Premiership Player of the Month and Coaches of the Month respectively for August and September.
Shalulile, last season’s runner-up on the goal scoring charts, has been in red-hot form since the start of this campaign and currently leads the standing with five goals in six matches, contributing close to half the number of goals (11) scored by Sundowns in the league to date.
His contribution up front has kept the champions atop the log standings since the opening day of the season and if he can maintain his top form for much of the season, Shalulile, as the reigning Premier Soccer League Footballer of the Season, could well be on the road to retain his title as well and become the first player to defend it.
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 up front and of course the goals he scored.
The Namibian forward beat other great performing players such as Victor Letsoalo of Royal AM and teammates Rivaldo Coetzee and Denis Onyango to the award.
The Sundowns coaching duo, who beat Royal AM’s John Maduka and SuperSport United’s Kaitano Tembo to the award, have overseen five wins, with one draw in their side’s opening six games, with their team scoring 11 goals and their defence yet to be breached.
The league-winning coaches have also impressively created amazing continuity within the team in the new season by getting new recruits Grant Kekana, Thabiso Kutumela and Neo Maema to gel, and play the Brazilians’ style of play.
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.
