For the second year running a true gentleman for the game will be crowned Footballer of the Season in South Africa. Kaizer Chiefs captain Tefu Mashamaite is hotly tipped to walk away with the title this Sunday, and I agree.
Kaizer Chiefs have been crowned the PSL champions this month, thanks to Mashamaite's level-headed leadership. He played all 30 matches for Chiefs this recently-ended season, and he was the mainstay in the heart of the defence which conceded just 14 goals.
When he is announced the winner on Sunday, no one thinks otherwise, "Masha" will be taking over from his former Wits University teammate Sibusiso Vilakazi as the best player in the South African league.
Both Vilakazi and Mashamaite are dedicated soldiers for all that should be good about football. Their clean image and leadership qualities make these two dedicated players real role models for youngsters. The two have chosen good manners and conduct on and off the field to carve out clean-cut images, a positive ingredient to the prestige of any elite league in the world.
Football is also attractive to players who seem to thrive on controversy and never care much about their public image. It is therefore deflating when such characters go to win honours such as footballer of the year, as this would appear to the youngsters that such wayward lifestyles are being endorsed.
South Africa is blessed with football talent, which unfortunately goes to waste in many instances because of the wrong lifestyle choices players make. Take the case of Mbulelo Mabizela, the 2003 PSL Player of the Season. Back then Mabizela oozed natural gift, and held so much promise for the future, both for himself and for the nation. His potential was such that at 22 he was already captain of both Orlando Pirates and the national team Bafana Bafana. And a month short of his 23rd birthday, Mabizela was signed by Tottenham Hotspur in England, for whom he scored in dream debut.
Then things fell apart. Mabizela enjoyed the good life in England, turning his work at Tottenham to secondary activity. Needless to say, he lost his place in the team, and way in life. His boozing ways continued to make headlines even when his career was given the lifeline by Mamelodi Sundowns, following a listless stint at Norway's Valerenga after fed-up Tottenham had shown him the door.
Today as we speak, Mabizela has gone down with the relegated AmaZulu. But then he had grand opportunities to redeem himself at Platinum Stars and Bidvest Wits, to no avail. Mabizela is not alone in such lost cause in SA football. Most recently reckless drinking ways finally caught up with Richard Henyekane whose career, like Mabizela's, went around in circles through a myriad of clubs, ironically including Sundowns. He was in the books of Free State Stars when he met his death in a car crash. Driving through the night from a party in Phuthaditjhaba, rushing back to club base in Bethlehemone, 80km away, the Kimberley Express was out of line indeed.
Dying with 31-year-old Henyekane in his vehicle were three young women, who included a schoolgirl. My purpose is not to be judgmental but to highlight the significance of life choices, especially in a short career like football. This is not say, as well, that Vilakazi and Mashamaite are cut from a different cloth. The difference they make to their lives comes from choosing to be rationale, modest, dedicated and hard working.
Mashamaite is also in line to join Lucas Twala (Orlando Pirates, 2009) and, ironically, Mabizela as the third defender to be crowned player of the season since PSL inugural season in 1996/97. The strongest challenge for Mashamaite comes from Chiefs teammate and fellow defender Eric Mathoho. His nomination is in recognition of the fact that Chiefs championship-run was won from the team's solid defence.
Midfielder Alexander Cole of Polokwane City is the third nominee for the player of the season award. Polokwane finished 12th but brought so much excitement as its games were guaranteed goals. Their total of goals scored is even better than Chiefs', but they leaked horribly at the back, conceding 60 goals from 30 matches! Cole was part of the reason why Polokwane were so exciting going forward, with their striker Puleng Tlolane finishing third in the scoring charts.
But this one surely goes to Mashamaite. Well done Mokone, you've come a long way from the shadows of the Blouberg, the fortress of warrior-king Malebogo.
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