Masuleke up for top Fifa award

Oscarine Masuleke, Baroka Football Club goalkeeper, has been nominated for the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) Puskás award following the wonder goal he scored against Orlando Pirates at Peter Mokaba Stadium last year.
Masuluke, who has been with the club for five years, did what most strikers struggle to do when he scored in a stoppage-time equaliser with a bicycle kick.
The former striker latched onto Orlando Pirates keeper Thapelo Mabokgwane’s poor punched clearance, let the ball bounce once on top of the penalty area and, with his back to the goal, unleashed an overhead kick into the top corner, over Mabokgwane and two Orlando Pirates defenders.
He follows in the footsteps of fellow South African players Hlompho Kekana and Simphiwe Tshabalala who had been nominated for the award in the past.
The other nominees are Kevin-Prince Boateng (Ghana and Las Palmas), Alejandro Camargo (Argentina and Universidad de Conception), Deyna Castellanos (Venezuela u.17 Women’s national team), Moussa Dembele (France and Celtic Football Club), Olivier Giroud (France and Arsenal Football Club), Aviles Hurtado (Colombia and Tijuana Xolos Football Club), Mario Mandzukic (Croatia and Juventus), Nemanja Matic (Serbia and Chelsea) and Jordi Mboula (Spain and FC Barcelona Youth).
Members of the public can vote for Masuluke from 9 October, when the nominees will be trimmed down to three finalists. Then they will get another vote, for one of the final trio, with both rounds of voting contributing to the final total. All voting for the Puskás Award will close during the ceremony on 23 October 2017.
Baroka Football Club Spokesperson Jimmy Ngobeni said they are proud of their player’s achievement and wished him the best in the awards.
“He has put the club on an international map and we are rallying behind him. We are urging all members of the South African public to vote for him,” Ngobeni said.

Story and photo: Herbert Rachuene
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