Namibia’s foremost football export Peter Shalulile is leading a long list of nominees for the upcoming South Africa Premier Soccer League (PSL) 2021/22 Season Awards, where he has been shortlisted in three prestigious categories.
The virtual PSL awards ceremony is set to take place on Sunday, 29 May, and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL channel 202 and on SABC.
The 28-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns striker, who tomorrow faces a daunting task of either equalling or breaking Collins Mbesuma’s 17-year-old record of 25 league goals in a single season when they face Royal AM for their final league assignment at the Chatsworth Stadium in Durban, has been shortlisted in the Footballer of the Season, DStv Premiership Player’s Player of the Season, and the MTN8 Last Man Standing categories.
The Namibian is currently on 22 league goals going into this weekend’s final league match against Royal AM, and will need to either score a hat-trick to equal Mbesuma’s record, or four goals to break it and set a new one.
However, with his amazing goals this season, Shalulile is guaranteed to walk away with the DStv Premiership Golden Boot award. It equally places him as the firm favourite in the three abovementioned categories.
For the Footballer of the Season award, Shalulile is vying with teammates Andile Jali and Themba Zwane as well as Royal AM’s striker Victor Letsoalo, while for the DStv Premiership Player’s Player of the Season category, it will be a three-horse race between Shalulile, Zwane and Jali.
In the MTN8 Last Man Standing category, the free-scoring Shalulile will be contesting against Jali and Surprise Ralani of Cape Town City, who is also set to join Sundowns’ attacking force next season. Shalulile also recently won the DStv Premiership Player of the Month for April, following his impressive back-to-back hattricks in victories over Swallows FC and Golden Arrows in April, amongst a horde of goals he scored during that month.
He maintained his great scoring form this season as he remains top goalscorer with 22 league goals after 29 league matches.
Meanwhile, Zambian legend Mbesuma, who is still playing football at age 38 for GladAfrica Championship side Pretoria Callies, has in recent times strongly encouraged Shalulile to equal and break his record.
“He can score even more than 25 goals, you know,” said Mbesuma, who played with Shalulile at Highlands Park during the 2016/17 season.
“The way Sundowns are playing and the form he is in, the record is there to break. I came here and I broke the record, so another one is going to come and break it. I wish him the best, and I know Peter because I played with him at Highlands Park. I know he is feeling the pressure, but he must just take it easy.”
-ohembapu@nepc.com.na