Johannesburg - It might be too early to make an accurate prediction, but Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is confident Percy Tau will walk away with the footballer of the season award.
Last week, Mosimane revealed he was rooting for the 23-year-old striker to win the accolade.
Mosimane said Tau is far ahead of his peers and nothing can stand in his way.
“We did a lot of work with Percy because we plan to make him footballer of the year. I think we are on course because, at the moment, he has six assists and seven goals,” said Mosimane.
“Those are good statistics that no one else in the country has been able to match at the moment.”
Last week, Tau was awarded the Absa player of the month award following his sterling performance for the Brazilians.
However, winning the footballer of the year award will not be a walk in the park for Tau, as Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper and captain Itumeleng Khune also has his eye on the honour.
Khune has made a huge difference at Chiefs, with eight clean sheets in as many games before last night’s match against Sundowns.
He was the first recipient of this season’s awards when he won in August and September.
This after the 30-year-old helped Amakhosi win a string of important matches.
The goalkeeper also picked up three successive Absa Premiership man of the match awards.
Khune’s performance on the pitch continues to improve and he will be a serious contender for an award, if not two.
Polokwane City striker Rodney Ramagalela – whose season is off to a good start – should not be overlooked.
Despite his team’s struggle to stay away from the bottom half of the table, Ramagalela has been their knight in shining armour.
In October, he walked away with the player of the month award, and his goal against Sundowns was also voted the best goal of the month.
Before this weekend’s round of fixtures, Ramagalela was leading the charts with nine goals.
With 11 more games to be played, there is still a long way to go. More players are likely to emerge and secure their spot in the winner’s circle.
Sundowns midfielder Hlompho Kekana, who has also won player and goal of the month awards, is another man to keep an eye on.
But, in the end, consistency will determine the winner.