Teboho Mokoena stood head and shoulders above his peers to be crowned the DStv Premiership Player of the Season; and, his story of reinvention speaks volumes about his desire to succeed.
Read: Al Ahli Boss: Pitso Performed Well, But…
Having joined Mamelodi Sundowns from SuperSport United in a blockbuster deal in January last year, Mokoena was already touted as one of the country's best youngsters.
However, as he would soon find out, the intensity at the Brazilians was far from what he was accustomed to and as a result, by his own admission he had struggled with the intensity at Chloorkop.
"Last season, I was struggling with the intensity when I got here. But during pre-season, I told myself that I needed to work on that," Mokoena told journalists earlier this year.
Rather than sulk and fade away like so many before him, Mokoena sought to improve himself and a trip to Dubai that was used for hard work rather than leisure proved to be the catalyst for what would be a historic 2022/23 season for the Bethlehem-born star.
"I think my trip to Dubai helped me a lot. It was very hot, so I did a lot of work on my endurance and stamina. And I came back (to South Africa) in better shape. I think I'm enjoying myself as a six. I think the competition that we have in the team is also making me a better player. So, overall, competition helps us," he said.
Mokoena was on Sunday confirmed as the PSL Player of the Season and the PSL Midfielder of the Season and he could soon add more accolades to his glittering season.
The midfielder has been nominated amongst 17 other players for the Soccer Laduma Player of the Season award, five of those are his Mamelodi Sundowns teammates.
Voting has opened on the Soccer Laduma website where you can vote for your Soccer Laduma Player of the Season, in partnership with Schick, and stand a chance to WIN one of four R500 shopping vouchers weekly! And a Grand prize of R2,000!
