In just less than a month since Kaizer Chiefs FC sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr confirming that they are interested in signing both Junior Mendieta of Stellenbosch FC and Khanyisa Mayo of Capetown City FC, Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has lately made a comment regarding his player Junior Mendieta and Iqraam Rayners.
Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker feels Iqraam Rayners and Junior Mendieta have both put their hands up to be in the discussion for Footballer of the Season. The footballer of the season award will have given to the best player at the end of the season.
Rayners has been in sublime form since his return to the club on January deadline day from SuperSport United, netting 15 goals and registering three assists in 11 games, while he had five assists during the first half of the season with Matsantsansa.
Meanwhile, Mendieta has been a talismanic figure for the Cape Winelands outfit and is the leading creator in the league with eight assists.
Overall, the Argentine has directly contributed to 18 goals (nine goals, nine assists) in 29 games across all competitions for the Nedbank Cup semi-finalists.
“It’s difficult to answer before the final two fixtures but I would like to say that I would hope people like Iqraam Rayners and Junior Mendieta start being part of the conversation,” Barker said when asked about the Premier Soccer League Footballer of the Season honour.
“I don’t necessarily feel they should win it, Sundowns, the way they’ve played should be in there, but the amount of goals and assists Rayners and Mendieta have, they should get some recognition.
“And also Young Player of the Season – I would be very disappointed if we didn’t have some nominees for that.
“We finished the game with six players under the age of 22 and the future looks good for the club. The challenge is always to maintain this, maintain the squad going forward.”
The issue where by coaches are saying their own players are deserving to win something, is not really new. Last season, Rhulani Mokwena also said Andile Jali deserves to win a player of the season award. Here is what Mokwena said last season incase you missed it;
Mamelodi Sundowns’ co-coach Rhulani Mokwena says Andile Jali deserve to named the player of the season due to his impressive form this season.
“Well, you have to give me a little bit more than just a couple of minutes we have because it’s not just about today but the entire season,” Mokwena said in his post-match reaction on SuperSport.
“In a couple of months ago, asked South Africa and the media: ‘Why are we not starting this debate about the Footballer of the Season?’
“The performances have been indicative of his personality. A couple of years ago, they called him ‘the Napoleon, the Dynamo’ and that’s what he shows: his leadership qualities and tenacity. His overall experience to assist the team in difficult moments.
“We are very fortunate to have him and the entire group. AJ is just a reflection of the entire group.”
