Who is the 2017/18 PSL Coach of the Season?

Following the conclusion of the 2017/18 season, Goal looks at the coach most deserving of the PSL Coach of the Season award

Once again talk has begun surrounding those who is worthy of picking up individual honours at the end of the season awards.

This year in particular, there has been considerable debate surrounding the potential winner of the 2017/18 Coach of the Season award, with championship winning coach Pitso Mosimane hitting out at his critics.

Nonetheless, after narrowing down the list to just four candidates, Goal looks at who was the best coach of the season.

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4. Luc Eymael

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The Belgian mentor has without doubt been one of the top coaches this season, and the attention which he has garnered due to his work at Free State Stars is nothing less than he deserved. Despite Eymael’s boardroom troubles at Polokwane City last season, he has certainly put everything aside and knuckled down.

This hard work and determination has culminated in a miraculous turnaround for the Bethlehem-based outfit. Not only did they end their season in an impressive sixth place, cementing a top eight finish, but they are potentially on the cusp of glory as they head into the Nedbank Cup final.

This is a massive contrast considering that just 12 months ago this same Free State Stars team was scratching at the bottom of the barrel.

It should also be noted that Eymael did not take Ea Lla Koto through a full pre-season as the club had initially appointed Sammy Troughton to the hot seat, only for him to depart just a few months later.

3. Milutin Sredojevic

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There is no one who can dispute the Serbian’s achievements this season. ‘Micho’ as the former Uganda international coach is affectionally known, has transformed the fortunes of a depleted Orlando Pirates side, and made them the mighty Bucs that South Africans have grown to love.

But it has certainly not been a one-man job at Pirates as former Mamelodi Sundowns and now Orlando Pirates assistant coach Rhulani Mokwena has complemented Micho.

Pirates were not only able to bounce back after their worst ever finish since the inception of the PSL, but they gave Sundowns a good run for their money until the very end.

Pirates also allotted an impressive 15 wins but what was most notable was the fact that they registered the least amount of loses - just five in the league all season.

2. Fadlu Davids

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While all other coaches on the list have several years of experience, Davids on the other end is a complete novice. Despite gaining experiencing during stints as an assistant, and experiencing a short spell as a caretaker coach, Davids appointment at the start of the season could have been seen as a shot in the dark by Maritzburg United boss Farook Kadodia.

The Team of Choice owner clearly must have seen something special in the 36-year-old as some may have believed that the mandate of finishing in the top five as well as reaching a cup final was a borderline on the unthinkable.

But Davids, in what can only be considered a tribute to his work ethic has exceeded expectations as they finished fourth on log and are still in contention to win their first ever silverware.

Davids’ use of youth is also something to commend and he has perhaps unearthed some of the country’s most promising youngsters this season in Siphesihle Ndlovu among others, achieving this on what can only be described as a shoe-string budget.

1. Pitso Mosimane

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Lastly, the 53-year-old is the most deserving of the coach of the year accolade. While many would argue that Mosimane has the luxury of virtually an open cheque book, and an abundance of expertise at his disposal at Mamelodi Sundowns, what he has achieved cannot be downplayed.

For three consecutive seasons, Sundowns have reached the group stages of the Caf Champions League, and while that is an achievement in its own right, Mosimane and company have taken it one further as they remained competitive domestically.

Just ask Orlando Pirates and now SuperSport United just how tough such a journey is, and when considered that Sundowns ended the season with a 13-game unbeaten run and sealed the league title with a game to spare, Mosimane's exploits cannot only be applauded enough.