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Cape Town - Hlompho Kekana has played down the significance of not winning at the PSL Awards evening, saying it happens to some of the best in the world.
Kekana had been in line for the Footballer of the Season and the Goal of the Season awards on Tuesday night at the annual PSL prize-giving.
But the main award of the evening - Footballer of the Season, went the way of Kekana's team-mate Percy Tau, while Golden Arrows marksman Siphelele Magubane claimed Goal of the Season, despite Kekana's sensational strike from in his own half against Orlando Pirates.
A CAF Champions League winner and skipper of the Sundowns who won the 2017/18 Premiership, there are those that feel Kekana has been hard-done-by in terms of individual recognition.
But the player says he accepts its part of the game, and has pointed to Barcelona and Spain legend Andres Iniesta, recently in South Africa to play in a friendly against Masandawana, as an example of a top player who has not always been rewarded individually.
"I see the positive side of things because I am not the only one. Look at Iniesta," Kekana was quoted saying by the SowetanLIVE website.
"How long has he been one of the best, but he has never won the Ballon d'Or? These things happen in football.
"I cannot fault the fans for feeling that way. They are the ones who follow the game, they are there at the stadium to watch every week, so they should know football better than most.
"From my side I cannot be upset or disappointed like them [the fans] because I am a leader and it's not all just about me," he continued.
"I must remain positive so that I can lead my team and cannot make things about myself. In football, opinions will always differ so that is the nature of the game."
