Tag Archives: PSL

Top 10 Central Midfielders in the PSL in the 2020/21 Season

With the 2020-21 DSTV Premiership campaign drawing to a close, we decided to rank the very best players in the league. This week we start with ranking the best central midfielders in the PSL.

We’ll rank each player on four abilities that are important for every central midfielder.

Tactically: Positioning, availability to receive the ball, finding space and work rate.

Technically: Ball control, long and short passes, vision, shooting, and strength on the ball.

Attack: Ability to create chances and score goals.

Defence: Ability to break up opposition attacks, tackle and recover to assist the defence.

10. Siyethemba Sithebe

Top 10 Central Midfielders in the PSL in the 2020/21 Season

Over the seasons Siyethemba Sithebe was known to be more of a number 10. But, this season Amazulu coach Benni McCarthy has played him more like a 6 alongside Makhehlene Makhaula. He is still learning the position but he has played well enough to earn a spot in the top 10 central midfielders in the PSL. 

Tactically:  6/10

Technically: 6/10

Attack: 8/10

Defence: 6/10

= 26/40

9. Gladwin Shitolo

Top 10 Central Midfielders in the PSL in the 2020/21 Season

Gladwin Shitolo is a versatile midfielder. In his previous teams, he has played as a central defender and as a full-back but his best position is as a defensive midfielder. Shitolo’s primary role is to act as a shield to the Golden Arrows defence and goalkeeper, harrying attackers and committing fouls

Tactically: 7/10

Technically: 6/10

Attack: 6/10

Defence: 8/10

= 27/40


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8. Musa Nyatama

Top 10 Central Midfielders in the PSL in the 2020/21 Season

Musa Nyatama is the oldest player on this list which means he has a lot of experience. In his younger days, Nyatama was an attacking midfielder. He converted into a holding midfielder in latter years and played his best football in the position under coach Milutin Sredojević at Orlando Pirates from 2017-2020. Nyatama now controls the midfield of Moroka Swallows. A team that has performed better than expected in their first season back in the PSL after 6 seasons. 

Tactically: 8/10

Technically: 7/10

Attack: 7/10

Defence: 7/10

= 29/40

7. Thabo Nodada

Top 10 Central Midfielders in the PSL in the 2020/21 Season

Thabo Nodada has performed well in an underwhelming season for the Citizens. He is skilful, incredible in attack, useful in defence and packs a powerful shot. 

Tactically: 7/10

Technically: 8/10

Attack: 8/10

Defence: 7/10

= 30/40

6. Sipho Mbule

Top 10 Central Midfielders in the PSL in the 2020/21 Season

One of the youngest players on this list and one of the most sort after. He is technically very good. His technic of passing and setpieces are exceptional and he pitches in with goals too. Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs are said to be preparing million rand bids for the youngster. 

Tactically: 7/10

Technically: 8/10

Attack: 8/10

Defence: 7/10

= 30/10

 


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Match Highlights: Josef Zinnbauer’s Orlando Pirates Fail To Score Enough Goals – Again

Orlando Pirates have found it difficult to score goals lately. Their lack of goal scoring began at the tail end of last season and bled to the beginning of the new season. Coach Zinnbauer has changed the combinations for his Orlando Pirates team but they still don’t seem to have the cutting edge. Orlando Pirates have signed quality players in the transfer window and the pressure will be on the German coach to produce some form of silverware this season.

 

 

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The Soccer Podcast With No Name (Yet) Ep.28

Bongani ‘Da Bongz’ Nkosi and Thabang ‘Cheez’ Kgeledi discuss this week’s soccer topics.

The Discussion This Week:

1. What Are The Implications Of The Sundowns/Chiefs Game?
2. Which Team Has the Edge Going Into The Last Three Game? Sundowns or Chiefs?
3. Summarise Orlando Pirates Season?
4. What Will A Move Away From Barcelona Mean For Messi and Barca?
5. Where Will Lionel Messi Best Fit? PSG or Manchester City?
6. How Long Till Frank Lampard Feels The Pressure At Chelsea?
7. Quick Hits!

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Sports minister Mthethwa: We will stop all PSL games if protocols aren’t adhered to…

Yes, local football is back! As the kids would say it’s been a minute (It has actually been 137 days, 3277 hours, 196667 minutes since the last PSL game was played but, who is counting?)

Your minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa doesn’t want you to get too excited about the return of the PSL though. He has promised to shut down the whole thing if teams don’t follow stringent measures outlined in the department’s Covid-19 protocol. 

“It therefore means that those plans that they have submitted should be adhered to‚ it’s not a fait accompli that people will just get on the field and play‚” Mthethwa said.

“They will play based on the plans which were submitted to the department and we reserve the right to halt any activity if we feel and think that those protocols and plans are not adhered to.

“We are pleased that the department of health has concurred with the proposal for football to return to completing the season behind closed doors in a Biologically Safe Environment (BSE)‚ which is a closed environment of the procured hotels‚ the transport hubs‚ training grounds and stadiums.


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“This is subject to the plans they have submitted and all other protocols as outlined in the regulations and directions published by the department.

“The compliance officers of both the SA Football Association and the Premier Soccer League will work together and ensure that all measures comply with the commitment made by the PSL in their submissions to government.

“We are expecting to receive the compliance officer’s report from Safa on the state of readiness for the NSL to resume play.”

Shutting down the PSL might be an idle threat by Minister Mthethwa. It may be a promise that his department won’t keep, lord knows that wouldn’t be the first time the government fails to deliver on a promise.

Politics aside, some teams, players, and even club executives have not taken the threat of Covid-19 as seriously as you might have hoped. We’ve heard rumors about Sundowns and Orlando Pirates breaking their own club protocols by going out drinking (I wonder where they are getting the alcohol, if one of you guys is reading this please let me know). We’ve seen certain club managers throwing parties at their residence during the lockdown…

https://twitter.com/Marcellomj/status/1288895352788127745

 

It would a shame for one team to mess it up for everybody else. The season is going to be done in 30 days. I’m sure players, managers, and staff can hold out for a little while longer till the 5th of September.  

By @cheezfootball (the greatest footy journo on the internet)

 

‘I don’t know where I will end up next season…: Thabang Monare

Bidvest Wits Thabang Monare, like a few other senior players in the team, doesn’t seem keen on signing a contract with Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila F.C.

Monare is uncertain where he is going to end up next season.

At this point I am just focusing on playing for [Wits],” Monare told the Citizen.

“I don’t know where I will end up next season but I still have games to play for Wits and that is my main focus.”

For those of you who have been living under a rock or have been out of data because your R350 SASSA money has not made it to your bank account yet; Bidvest Wits is no more.

Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM)  announced the purchase of the PSL status of Bidvest Wits in mid-June.  By the end of the 2019/20 season, all of the Bidvest Wits squad members, coaching, medical, and administrative staff will be posting their CV’s on pnet.co.za. 


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Big clubs have been circling around Bidvest Wits like sharks. Their mouths salivating at the opportunity to snatch players on the cheap or for free from the sinking Titanic. Thabang Monare has been linked with a move to Kaizer Cheifs. But, Amakhosi are banned from making transfers in the next window as per sanction handed out by Fifa. 

Mamelodi Sundowns are stacked in Monare’s position. They even had to let go Oupa Manyisa to make room for George Maluleka recently. I doubt Pitso Mosimane will be looking for another central midfielder. Orlando Pirates are another team with the rich people problem of having too many talented midfielders. The likes Fortune Makaringe, Linda Mntambo, Xola Mlambo, and Ben Motshwari are all competing for a place in the first team. 

The only team I could see Thabang Monare going to is Supersport United. Dean Furman has said he is leaving for the UK to be with his wife and family. This, of course, leaves a gap in the midfield that can be filled by the talents of Monare.


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Pre-Lockdown Absa Premiership Awards

If the PSL would have declared an end to the season after the lockdown, these are the players who would have snapped up the Absa Premiership awards: 

Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season:

Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United) – Williams was has been the most consistent keeper in the league again this season. He has bailed his ageing defence out on may occasions. 👴🏿

Absa Premiership Defender of the Season:

Eric Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs) – I thought Eric Mathoho was finished. 💀

For the past couple of years, Mathoho missed games due to injuries and dip in form. Mulomowandau used to dominate opposition players on the ground and in the air. But, not anymore.

This season, however, he is back to his old self. Mathoho is a very important player in Ernst Middendorps log leading team. His defending has been sublime, when not in the team his absence has been felt, and he has even pitched in with a couple of important goals. 

Absa Premiership Young Player of the Season:

Sipho Mbule (SuperSport United) – Sipho Mbule has had a breakout season. Mbule is a highly skilled midfielder. He has an excellent range of passing, a very good setpiece taker, and has a sprinkle of flair to his game. 


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Absa Premiership Midfielder of the Season:

Teboho Mokoena (SuperSport United) – At only 23, Mokoena has a bright future.  Being one of the best players at a position that takes years to master is a testament to his talent. Mokoena is technically sound and his work rate both in attack and defence is excellent. Let’s hope he gets a move abroad sooner rather than later. ✈️

Absa Premiership Goal of the Season:

Cole Alexander (Bidvest Wits)

Enough said. 

Absa Premiership Top Goal Scorer:

Gabadinho Mhango (Orlando Pirates) – Mhango moved from to Pirates from Bidvest WIts this season. It didn’t seem as though he was Gavin Hunt’s cup of tea beside the obvious talent. ☕

Mhango had to fight his place in the first Pirates team. Mhango now could be the Buccaneers most important player due to the goals he scores. ☠️

Absa Premiership Coach of the Season:

Ernst Middendorp (Kaizer Chiefs) – Don’t lie Kaizer Chiefs supporters, don’t act like you were all juiced up when you heard Chiefs brought Middendorp back to be your coach.

Mazinyo did okay in his stint from 2005-2007 but some fans still blame him for the departure of Scara Ngobese from Chiefs. That’s another story for another day.  📅

Like him or not you’d have to admit, Middendorp has improved as a coach. He doesn’t have the most talented team but it functions well as a unit. 

Absa Premiership Player’s Player of the Year:

I do not know who the players would have voted for as their player of the season. 🤷🏿‍♂️

But, most of the time it ends up being the same player as the: 

Absa Premiership Footballer of the Season:

Lebogang Manyama (Kaizer Chiefs) – Manyama another player who resurrected his career this season. He has on occasion single-handedly won a game for Chiefs. He is intelligent, skilful, can pick a through ball and scores occasionally.

Ernst Middendorp has given him the keys to the Chiefs offensive and he has single-handedly driven it to the top of the standings. He is the footballer of the season. 🗝️

Well, sort of…

The Return of the PSL…

I bet some of you didn’t think the day for the return of the PSL would come. I was just like you. The date moved from the 18th of July, to the 1st of August, to owners apparently wanting the season to be null and void (something gives me a feeling it was one of those guys at the bottom of the table).

We finally know when local football will be back! 🎆

Yesterday The Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman Irvin Khoza held a press conference confirming the return of domestic football in South Africa.

“We have informed our broadcasters and stakeholders of the return on the 8th of August,” the League chairman announced.

https://twitter.com/OfficialPSL/status/1287758302449991680

“We have informed the Gauteng MEC as the province that will be hosting the matches. I phoned the president of SAFA [Danny Jordaan] to inform him that we are resuming on the 8th of August.

“I also tried to get hold of the Sports Minister [Nathi Mthethwa] but was unable to get hold of him because Mondays are busy.


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“This is a historic moment. At this point in time I can gladly announce that 8th of August is a definite goal for the Absa Premiership and GladAfrica Championship.

“We are resuming on the 8th of August. The first games will be the Nedbank Cup semi-finals, and the last game will be the Nedbank Cup final.

“It’s all systems go.”

The official return date is scheduled for Saturday, 8 August with the Nedbank Cup semi-finals between Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits. The Absa Premiership will return three days later with a midweek game on Tuesday, 11 August. 

It is said the association looks to complete the 2019/20 season by Saturday, 5 September. Games are expected to play every three days for the league to reach the target date. But, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits still have three more games to play than everybody else. We’ll just have see how they work that out. 

Stay tuned for more updates and opinions from the ZoBo Blog!!

 

 

John Comitis ‘If we don’t resume [the PSL], there’s going to be problems…’

It seems as though the last time we saw a football game played in South Africa the most popular phone was a Nokia 3310 and watching wrestling was cool. Cape Town City chairperson John Comitis thinks that bad things are going to happen if the PSL doesn’t resume soon.

“If we don’t resume, there’s going to be problems. Sponsors are going to start asking questions – like our own sponsors are asking questions,” 

“We are hoping that we will return to football, because we are going to suffer (if we don’t)…

“We’ve been training via zoom and until we were given permission to get back to training. We’ve been training for the past three months. The players are getting frustrated.

“The entire industry is getting frustrated. It is not nice. The coaches are getting fired. We are aimlessly training for nothing.

“We are hopeful that sanity will prevail and (we will) return to business, like other businesses that have been allowed to return.

“We’ve been told to get ready. We need to wait for PSL and SAFA to finalise what is going to happen.”

I feel you, John.


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His old team Ajax Cape Town has more to lose than many other clubs. John Comitis former side sitting pretty atop the NDF table and will surely be promoted to the PSL. That’s if, of course, the season resumes.

City Press reports the majority of club owners have called for the current campaign to be declared null and void without handing over the trophy to PSL log leaders Kaizer Chiefs. That would mean no relegation and play-offs for teams that are currently sitting on position 16 and 15. Ajax Cape Town would not be promoted while no team will be relegated to the ABC Motsepe League.

It was reported by Sun Sport that the real reason SAFA  is hesitant for green-lighting the league campaign is because, according to stand-in CEO Tebogo Motlanthe, ‘SAFA doesn’t want to be blamed for anything that could go wrong if football…’

Motlanthe suggests the association isn’t convinced that the league has complied with all the new regulations as set out by the government and the Joint Liaison Committee.

I still believe the league will resume. SAFA and the PSL have too much to lose. Like John Comitis said, the more we wait the more devasting the consequences on the whole football structure. SAFA cannot afford that. They are already seen as incompetent by many. The PSL and their teams need to follow correct COVID-19 regulations. Then I think it will be all systems go. 🤞🏽

‘We are a business’: Irvin Khoza on the return of the PSL return…

The PSL return is soon. Around the beginning of August. The 1st to be exact. Well, that’s at least what Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairperson Irvin Khoza is proposing.

The league was supposed to return on the 18th of July but the PSL failed to reach an agreement with the South African Football Association (SAFA) and the ‘unavailability of match officials’.

As much as I’m sure Irvin Khoza and his board love watching football this has more to do with as he put it ‘business’.

On Monday Khoza held a press conference where he said that‚ while Fifa will accept a 2019/20 season going past August 31 if informed‚ the league sees such a cut-off date as essential due to pressing financial concerns.


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“That is why it is urgent for us to (restart the season) because beyond the 30th of June we won’t be able to pay the clubs their grants and if that happens it means we must now revert back to section 189 for retrenchments‚” said Khoza.

“That is the reality of the situation‚ it has been stressful for the clubs. Some of the clubs took it upon themselves to do some kind of dealings with the players by asking for reductions of about 30 to 40 percent of their packages.

“The unfortunate part is that from the 30th of June‚ that was the last time we get the grant. What we find is the new season going forward and the sponsors at this point in time‚ especially the broadcaster‚ for the last three months they have allowed for us to pay and be paid without asking questions in terms of what we are giving in return.

“What we have done as the PSL is that we have made sure that we stick to what we promised the players until the 30th of June. I also want to thank Fifa for allowing us to engage the players and the Players Union that they must corporative for sporting integrity.

“All the clubs must play and finish the season with a full complement of the players. Hence we have extended from the 30th of June to the 30th of July‚ but we went beyond that as the PSL to the 30th of August.”