Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has opened up on the debate that Monnapule Saleng deserved the Footballer of the Season award over Teboho Mokoena.
Mokoena won the coveted Footballer of the Season award, beating two other candidates on the shortlist, his Sundowns teammate, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and Orlando Pirates forward Saleng.
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There have been claims from supporters across the country, especially Pirates fans, that Saleng was "robbed" given that he had more goals and assists than Mokoena, in all competitions, after the Buccaneers finished second in the DStv Premiership, plus won the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup double.
Mokwena says he has no problem with Saleng winning but it's unfair to compare the Pirates forward's stats to Mokoena, because they don't play in the same position.
"I have no issues with Saleng winning because our vote went to him," Mokwena said on The Pitchside Podcast.
"My opinion is, Ronwen and Tebza, it could have gone to either one of the two. Can we say Ronwen was cheated? I'm putting the conversation into context, replacing the Saleng name with Ronwen's name."The basis of your argument, would it still be Ronwen was cheated because Ronwen scored more goals than Teboho if that had happened?" he asked.
Mokwena, who won the DStv Premiership Coach of the Season award, after Sundowns won the league title with seven games to spare, continued and argued that if they were to compare Saleng with Mokoena's strong points in midfield, he would not even stack up.
"Is it an expectation with regards to the metrics, in relation to the position, is it something you put as an important consideration?" he asked.
"Would goals and assists be your number one starting point? No. So, Teboho plays a different position than Saleng. I don't think you should say Tebza as a six should be judged on goals and assists.
"If we do that, the things that Saleng are good at, he has more goals and assists, no problem but you can measure data only if it's equal," he went on.
"The things that Tebza is good at, completed passes in build-ups, interceptions, key passes, let's put Saleng's numbers on those, compared to Tebza's. I can tell you it's a whitewash," he insisted.
Mokwena also revealed that he did not vote because he's not allowed to vote for his own player and did not know who to choose and instead gave his form to goalkeeper coach Wendell Robinson, who voted for Saleng.
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