Itumeleng Khune and not Teko Modise should have been named the Premier Soccer League’s (PSL) best footballer this season if coaches had voted along the lines they suggested to the Mail & Guardian this week.
Of the coaches who spoke to the M&G, eight said they had voted for Khune, five for Modise and six for Enoh Eyong. But Modise, the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana midfielder, walked away with R250 000 and the title.
The credibility of the selection is being compared to that of the Zimbabwean election, with some coaches seeing Khune as the sport’s Morgan Tsvangirai, while Modise is viewed as a beneficiary of sympathetic vote counters.
A statement from the league this week said the process was fair and democratic and league chief executive Kjetil Siem refused to discuss the matter further.
Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi is one of the PSL coaches who believe that Khune is the deserved to win.
”Itumeleng should have won the award, everybody who’s in football knows that. Kaizer Chiefs could have been relegated if it was not for that boy,” said Mngqithi.
The votes
Roger de Sa (BidVest Wits): Eyong, Khune, Pelembe
Jomo Sono (Jomo Cosmos): Pelembe, Eyong, Khune
Trott Moloto (Mamelodi Sundowns): Pelembe, Khune, Eyong
Jimmy Augosti (Bloemfontein Celtics): Modise, Khune, Eyong
Manqoba Mngqithi (Golden Arrows): Khune, Pelembe, Paulse
Ian Gorowa (Moroka Swallows): Eyong, Khune, Pelembe
Muhsin Ertugral (Kaizer Chiefs): out of the country
David Bright (Santos): Modise only
Craig Roslee (Ajax Cape Town): Out of the country
Sammy Troughton (Free State Stars): Modise, Khune, Pelembe
Owen da Gama (Orlando Pirates): Not available
Roger Palmgren (Thanda Zulu Royals): Modise
Gavin Hunt (SuperSport United): Pelembe, Eyong, Bongani Khumalo
Joel Masutha (Black Leopards): Khune, Modise, Dikgacoi
Miguel Gamondi (Platinum Stars): Out of the country
Clive Barker (AmaZulu): Not available