Ex-Orlando Pirates striker snubs Lucas Ribeiro for POTY! Insists 'rare' Mofokeng deserves it - 'Young Relebohile carried Bucs'

The 2024/25 Premier Soccer League campaign ended late in May with Mamelodi Sundowns winning the title for the eighth time in a row.

Soweto giants Orlando Pirates fell short to finish second for the third season in a row under the former coach Jose Riveiro, who is now leading Al Ahly.

Stellenbosch finished third to secure their Caf Confederation Cup ticket for just the second time in their history.

Lucas Ribeiro of Sundowns was one of the players who had some decent numbers in the league after scoring 16 goals with nine assists to his name, which saw him claim the Golden Boot.

Pirates' youngster Relebohile Mfokemg did not have such good numbers but was a key player for Bucs.

The 20-year-old had five goals and eight assists from the 26 PSL games he played.

However, former Pirates attacker Pollen Ndlanya has explained why the versatile Bafana Bafana international should be considered for the Player of the Year Award.

“I think it is a very close battle between Relebohile Mofokeng and Lucas Ribeiro because they were both very influential for their teams this past season,” he told iDiski Times.
“Ribeiro did very well for Mamelodi Sundowns, and that’s why he has to be considered. He played consistently well and was influential in most of their matches, and he was even the league’s top scorer.

But I would go with Relebohile. For a player as young as he is to carry the team the way he did for Pirates this year was amazing," Ndlanya continued.

“Pirates relied on him, and he came through for them. Every match he played, he was a key figure, as he created goals and even scored.

"It is very rare to have someone so young being the key player for a club, especially one as big as Pirates, where the pressure is very high.

“If I were a judge, my vote would go to Rele," he concluded.

It has been a competitive season and it will be interesting to see the criteria that will be employed to get deserved winners.

Regardless of the outcome, Mofokeng has been excellent since his debut for the Bucs senior team and can only be better in the future.