Most of the teams in the Mascom Premier League are left with two to three games and it appears Ecco City Green will be crowned champions because their nearest rivals, Mochudi Centre Chiefs and BDF, have failed to close in on them in the past games.
It is also not yet clear on who exactly will be relegated because log trailers, Prisons XI and FC Satmos have chances of surviving.
At this stage last season, it was already known that Police XI were the champions and Mosquito had already been condemned to the First division. It was also evident that Malepa Bolelang was the winner of the golden boot award. What was not clear then was the overall best player of the league. That award would eventually go to Moemedi Moatlhaping, who is now plying his trade for Silver Stars in South Africa.
This season was scintillating and very competitive and it is still not clear who exactly will walk away with the fabulous prize.
However, two popular coaches in the country and a journalist have put their money on Mochudi Centre Chiefs striker, Pontsho Moloi. The duo of Stanley Mwaanga of Prisons and Daniel ‘Chicco’ Nare of Township Rollers, together with Kesentse Ketumile of the Daily News, say Moloi has been brilliant throughout the season and it would not be surprising if he won the award. Moloi is also currently in the race for the golden boot award and is breathing heavily down Tshephiso Molwantwa’s neck. Molwantwa has been the leading goal scorer since the league commenced.
“Normally when you look at the overall best player, you consider the consistency of the player from the time the league started and to the time it ends. Moloi meets all that because he has been playing so well at Mochudi Centre Chiefs. Even during that time while he was at Notwane, he still enjoyed his game. People have always been talking about Molwantwa and Mabogo for the golden boot award, but Pontsho has, of late, joined the race and it is possible for him to surpass Molwantwa on the way,”
Mwaanga added that Moloi is a good controller and passer of the ball in the Mascom Premier League.
Although Nare had many players in mind, he said what catapults Moloi above the others is the fact that he does not only score but is also very skillful and creative.
“This season is one of the best I have ever seen on our local soccer scene. The competition was very tight among the players but Moloi deserves something.
Ketumile shared the same sentiments with both Mwaanga and Nare and said Moloi is ready for an overseas team.
“When Pontsho was at Notwane, he was very good but he was still more into street football where by you take too much time with the ball and dribble unnecessarily. He has so far improved on that and if he does not score, he creates. Currently, he has all what it takes and he should be playing overseas next season. There are also many good players but I do not think there is anyone who is better than Moloi,” he said.
Mwaanga told The Sunday Standard that Ecco City Green’s top marks man, Malepa ‘Chippa’ Bolelang, might be a surprise package. He said Bolelang did not start the league well but he has all of a sudden proved many people wrong by coming out strongly. Mwaanga added that Bolelang is one of the engineers of Ecco City’s current success.
“Every body knows that Bolelang is a good player; it would not be much of a surprise if he wins it. Another player that I also think did a fantastic job is Centre Chiefs player, Gobonyeone ‘Shoes’ Selefa. He is a good defender who plays well for the under 23,” Mwaanga said.
Nare said he would also not be surprised if Ecco City right winger, Nicholas Matlhare, snatched the award. He said Matlhare did well for his team for most of the season and most of the goals Ecco City scored come from his side. Nare said Matlhare might be short in height but his runs and shots are dangerous.
“That guy (Matlhare) is a good winger and does not fear anyone. On his day, he can single handedly destroy the opponents with his slippery runs. Many goals that are scored by players such as Mandlekosi Sibandla and Bolelang are normally orchestrated by him,” Nare said.