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SuperSport United defender Siyabonga Nhlapo believes full-backs deserve more recognition in the Absa Premiership, especially when award season arrives.
The Absa Premiership's Defender of the Season award has been won by a centre-back for the last five years. Tefu Mashamaite (Kaizer Chiefs), Thabo Nthethe (Sundowns), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Bidvest Wits), Siyanda Xulu (Maritzburg United), and Ricardo Nascimento (Sundowns) picked up the gong in recent years.
Nhlapo is convinced that centre-backs are more likely to receive recognition even when there is a full-back more worthy of the defender award.
"It's not a matter of what I think, evidence is there that PSL awards overlook full-backs. Thami [Mkhize] was wonderful last season. He should have won it ahead of Nascimento, but because Nascimento is a centre-back he went away with it," said Nhlapo, according to Sowetan Live.
"You look at those situations as a fellow fullback and despair. You look at Thapelo Morena. He's been doing well, but he hasn't been nominated even once.
"The overall work of a fullback is not appreciated. When a team leads, as a fullback you can't go forward.
"Our role is very difficult... it's a role where you need a lot of understanding of football.
"It's you who stops the most dangerous players from the opposite team, which are the wingers. If I can shut down a winger and we win the game, that's when they see my importance."
- TEAMtalk media
