While Betway Premiership will only commence in September, the 2024/25 PSL season begins with MTN8 this weekend and Afrik-Foot looks at 10 players to watch this season.
TEN PLAYERS ONE SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO THIS SEASON
10 – Fiacre Ntwari (Kaizer Chiefs)
The Rwandan goalkeeper is one of Kaizer Chiefs' new signings and is expected to bolster the club's goalkeeping department. Chiefs have struggled with inconsistency between the posts in recent seasons, constantly rotating keepers.
After impressing at TS Galaxy, Ntwari will aim to replace Itumeleng Khune, a position that has proved challenging to fill for Chiefs.
9 – Gaston Sirino (Kaizer Chiefs)
The Uruguayan attacker recently penned a two-year deal with Amakhosi following his departure from Mamelodi Sundowns after six seasons.
Expected to be Chiefs' main man, Sirino brings much-needed star power to the club. Despite being 33, he demonstrated last season that he still has plenty to offer.
8 – Gilberto (Orlando Pirates)
The Buccaneers fans have many expectations on the Angolan winger who has been praised by the teammates.
His impressive performances against Sundowns in the African Football League for Petro de Luanda have heightened expectations. A goal in a pre-season match against Granada CF has further fueled optimism for the 2024/25 season. You can use the Betway sign up code to get a welcome bonus to place a bet on his next game.
7 – Tashreeq Matthews (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Signed for Masandawana in January and hit the ground running, scoring four goals in 17 matches that he played in all competitions.
His impressive form continued in pre-season with three goals for the Tshwane giants in Austria. These performances suggest he is ready to become a regular starter for Sundowns.
6 – Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates)
Mofokeng won both DStv Premiership Young Player of the Season and the Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player of the Tournament awards last season.
He’s expected one of the key figures for Jose Riveiro’s side as Pirates are aiming for the league title.
Despite his age, Mofokeng has shown that he can be a man to rely on.
5 – Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Ribeiro was one of the major contributors to the success of Masandawana in the league and African Football League, banging goals particularly when Peter Shalulile was injured or not coming to the party.
Perhaps we are yet to see the best of Ribeiro as the 25-year-old forward was plagued by injuries at some point.
He has adapted well to the South African football and could come back better than last season.
4 – Arthur de Oliveira Sales (Mamelodi Sundowns)
The Brazilian forward joined the league champions for a reported R64 million, raising expectations about his abilities.Incoming head coach Manqoba Mngqithi believes Sales will be a valuable asset to the team.
3 – Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns)
‘Mshishi’, as he’s well-known, is the heartbeat of Sundowns play and at times they have struggled when he’s not on the field.
At the age of 34, Zwane is still in his peak and productive whenever he pulls on the Brazilians shirt. Following the departure of Rulani Mokwena, he’s the leader of the team to help the incoming coach continue where they left off last season as many believe Sundowns will fall.
2 – Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates)
Maswanganyi's dazzling skills made him a fan favorite in his debut season at Pirates.
His impressive performances earned him multiple PSL awards, including Player's Player of the Season, Midfielder of the Season, and Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament. The question is whether he can maintain this high level of performance.
1 – Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns)
His PSL Footballer of the Season award last season, coupled with winning the AFCON Golden Glove in February, solidifies his status as the league's best player and Africa's top goalkeeper.
His ability with both feet, as well as his hands, has made him the starting point of Sundowns's attacking move. He is a calm figure, particularly with the ball at his feet and no fixture fazes him.
His leadership qualities are expected to play a major role to keep the team together following significant changes in the technical team.
