Tinkler Snubs Makgalwa For Player Of The Season, Tips Downs Star

Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler has overlooked rejuvenated Keletso Makgalwa for a Mamelodi Sundowns star in his pick for the 2024/25 PSL footballer of the season award as the curtain slowly closes on the campaign.

The Limpopo-born player rediscovered his form since signing for Babina Noko at the beginning of the season from Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit Upington City, where he was allowed to revive his career after an unsuccessful loan-ridden stay at Chloorkop.

Makgalwa currently leads the pack in the assists charts in the league, setting up 11 goals while scoring four in 26 games. Moreover, he was recently named Betway Premiership player of the month for April as Tinkler scooped the coach of the month accolade.

Now, with the business end of the season fast approaching and paving the way for the annual PSL awards, the former Cape Town City coach believes Makgalwa’s name should be thrown into the hat when picking nominees for the prestigious player of the season award.

“I think if you go look at his stats and he’s got the most assists in the league, so I’m assuming that it would be taken into consideration. To be honest, I haven’t looked at all the other stats to compare,” said Tinkler.

However, while he backs the 28-year-old winger to be in the conversation, Tinkler tips Lucas Ribeiro Costa to bag the award, highlighting the massive goal contributions the Brazilian talisman chipped in with throughout the campaign.

“We know the boy at Sundowns, Ribeiro, he’s probably got a lot of assists himself, but not only the assists, he scored a lot of goals. So, if I had to choose, it would probably be him [Ribeiro], but I haven’t seen the stats, I’m not 100% sure,” he added.

With 16 league goals, which puts him two ahead of Iqraam Rayners, and nine assists to his name in 27 matches, the 54-year-old tactician touts Ribeiro as the outright candidate for the award.