In a country where statistics are often the be-all-and-end-all, SuperSport United left winger Thapelo Maseko feels Mamelodi Sundowns' Cassius Mailula has a better chance of winning the DStv Premiership Young Player of the Season award.
Both Maseko and Mailula are nominated for the award, along with Stellenbosch FC's lanky defender Olwethu Makhanya, who is the youngest on the list at age 19.
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Mailula just completed his first season as a first team player at Sundowns, proving to be important, especially between October and January, when Peter Shalulile was out recovering from injury. Shalulile, Sundowns' top marksman, missed six league matches during that period and Mailula rose to the occasion by scoring five goals, more than any other player at the club at the time. In total, Mailula collected nine goals and three assists in 17 league matches.
Maseko, meanwhile, also had a good season with Sundowns' rivals, SuperSport. The 20-year-old, who has attracted interested from Belgian topflight side Westerlo, played seven more matches than Mailula did in the Premiership and bagged four goals and two assists.
Despite having a good campaign and playing an important part in SuperSport's journey to finishing third and qualifying for next season's CAF Confederation Cup, Maseko feels it might not be enough to win it ahead of Mailula.
"I think Cassius has the better chance, honestly. Because in South Africa we look at stats and my stats are not really good compared to his. But he deserves it, honestly. I give it to him, honest," Maseko told the Siya crew.
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"He's been phenomenal in his first breakthrough season, scoring 10 plus goals (in all competitions). It's wonderful. It's not something that anyone can just do every season."
The PSL awards will be held on Sunday.
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