Premier Soccer League Player of the Season power rankings: Castillo, Mayo & Mabasa among the early frontrunners

The Pirates loanee has been a revelation for Moroka Swallows this season, so much so that his coach Steve Komphela believes he can bang in 30 goals this season.

Komphela thinks so highly of his striker that he has even likened him to Manchester City’s deadly forward Erling Haaland, with Mabasa having scored six goals in the PSL so far.

The 27-year-old might have struggled to break into the Pirates team but he is definitely sending a strong message to Bucs coach Riveiro while banging on Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos’ door.

After a poor start to the season, last season's PSL top scorer has rediscovered his scoring form and is once again banging them in for fun.

He is currently the joint-top scorer in the PSL this season with six goals and is already halfway from reaching his Golden Boot-winning tally of last season.

Mayo is one of the most sought-after players in the league with clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs reported to be admirers.

The Brazilian attacker has hit the ground running since joining the multiple championship winners in the close season from Belgian side Beveren.

Ribeiro, unlike other foreign imports, needed little time to settle into his new surroundings, fitting into the star-studded Dows outfit like a hand in glove.

His mentor, Rhulani Mokwena, insists the skillful forward is yet to reach his full potential despite having scored seven goals in 11 matches in all competitions.

He is back from an injury and there is little doubt that he is capable of picking up where he left off when he returns, whenever that may be.

The SuperSport United veteran striker has been slowly regaining his form this season, scoring the first hat-trick of the 2023-24 PSL season as United claimed a 3-1 triumph over Royal AM at the TUT Stadium on October 26.

Grobler is in the race for Siyabonga Nomvethe’s PSL all-time scoring record and should he stay fit, he will most likely be among the contenders for this coveted award.

Castillo arguably been one of Chiefs’ best foreign imports in years having hit the ground running in Naturena like no other foreigner has managed to do in a long time.

With five goals in 15 matches in all competition, especially from a deep-lying midfielder, the Venezuelan has been impressive and needs to be mentioned in the conversation for the potential Player of the Season.

He has been so impressive that he has even earned a call-up to the Venezuela national team in October and Novemver 2023.

The Pirates striker started the new season like a house on fire and was unstoppable for the first couple of matches where he was the main man for the Buccaneers.

Lepasa raced to 10 goals in all competitions in a handful of matches for Pirates earlier this season before hitting a bit of a snag recently with goals hard to come by for both club and country.

He has since been displaced in Jose Riveiro’s starting line up by Evidence Makgopa due to a combination of slight injuries and indifferent form.

Nevertheless, Lepasa can’t be counted out in the race for the Player of the Season award having already shown that he can be near unstoppable once he hits form.

When Williams joined Sundowns from Tshwane rivals SuperSport United two season ago, not many believed that he would get gametime given the quality the Braazilians possed in his position.

However, the Bafana Bafana skipper proved his worth, displacing long time numer one keeper Dennis Onyango and making the No. 1 jersey his own.

This season, the Gqeberha-born custodian has proved a cut above competition, especially in continental competitions and it is only a matter of time before he come into his own in the league on a consistent basis.

The attacking midfielder is a consistent performer for Lamontville Golden Arrows.

Sibiya is one of the reasons have maintained their spot in the top eight in the PSL standings.

By November 24, he had more assists (four) in the league than any other player.

Mamelodi Sundowns' diminutive midfielder hasn't really taken the PSL by storm so far but there are signs that this could be his year as he now looks well settled.

When Sundowns are playing well, Allende is usually the player pulling all the string in midfield alongside the likes of Themba Zwane and last season's winner of this accolade, Teboho Mokoena.

The Stellenbosch FC striker has been a revelation for the Cape Winelands outfit since his return from an unsuccessful spell at SuperSport United.

Rayners, a former National First Division top scorer, is proving that he has what it takes to excel at the highest level in Mzansi.

He currently has three league goals for Stellies and on current form, is destined to bag a lot more.