By Michael Madyira
The PSL has released the nominees for various award categories for the 2023-24 season, and Stellenbosch forward Iqraam Rayners has muscled into the ultimate player’s recognition: the PSL Footballer of the Season.
Currently on 14 goals and chasing the Golden Boot, Rayners faces off against the holder in this category, Teboho Mokoena and his Mamelodi Sundowns teammate, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Surprisingly, Orlando Pirates attacker Patrick Maswanganyi is missing from this category. He appeared to have done enough to be nominated after racking seven Man of the Match awards during the season.
If Mokoena or Williams wins this award, it will be the fifth straight year for a Masandawana player to claim it.
The Coach of the Year award is a battle between Sundowns’ Rhulani Mokwena, his Stellenbosch counterpart Steve Barker and Jose Riveiro of Pirates.
TS Galaxy trainer Sead Ramovic’s name is missing from these nominees. In a campaign, he led his side to be top-four contenders with a squad of average players like Barker.
Rayners appears again in the Players’ Player of the Season category in which Maswanganyi and Williams are included.
It is a tight contest for the Young Player of the Season, featuring Pirates star Relebohile Mofokeng and the SuperSport United duo of Shandre Campbell and Ime Okon.
Interestingly, Mokoena is vying for the top award but is not a nominee for the Midfielder of the Season award, where Maswanganyi, Richards Bay’s Sanele Barns and Devin Titus of Stellenbosch appear.
Masandawana centre-back Grant Kekana, Pirates’ Tapelo Xoki and Stellenbosch captain Deano van Rooyen are up for the Defender of the Season award.
After keeping 15 clean sheets in 21 league matches while conceding only seven goals, Williams is also a contender for the Goalkeeper of the Season against Stellenbosch’s Sage Stephens and Ali Badra Sangare of Sekhukhune United.
Pictured above: Stellenbosch forward Iqraam Rayners.
Image source: Stellenbosch
