2019/20 Absa Premiership Breakout Stars of the Season: Which players could blow?

Fans during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on October 26, 2013 in Soweto, South Africa.

(Oct. 25, 2013 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Here’s some names for you to remember. Seven of the Absa Premiership’s hottest prospects and future stars that could light up the 2019/20 season.

1. Teboho Mokoena

Age: 22

Club: SuperSport United

Position: Midfielder

At his age, he is already part of the South African national team. He made his debut appearance for Bafana Bafana in 2016 and has since made about 50 appearances. Teboho scored the winning goal in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for South Africa against islanders, Seychelles.

2. Phakamani Mahlambi

Age: 21

Club: Mamelodi Sundowns

Position: Attacking Midfielder

He started his career with Bidvest Wits and has been blazing since then. Of note, he suffered a medial collateral ligament and took some time off the field of play. In 2017, he signed for Al Ahly, making him the first ever South African to play in Egyp. He has since returned home for the champions and remains one of the reasons why Pitso’ side remain acclaimed for their squad depth.

3. Justin Shonga

Age: 22

Club: Orlando Pirates

Position: Forward

The Zambian player was signed by the South African Bucs in 2017 from Nkwazi FC, a club back in Zambia. So far he has scored 4 goals in 23 ABSA Premiership appearances. Put aside his age, Justin “the Sheriff” Shonga is one of the deadliest attackers in the league, ask the defenders. He has however been a subject of speculation in the summer with Tanzania’s Simba FC reported to be interested in the Zambian international.

Siyabonga Nkosi of the Chiefs celebrates after the Nedbank Cup Final between SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium on May 25, 2013 in Durban, South Africa.

(Dec. 31, 1999 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

4. Gift Links

Age: 20

Club: Cape Town City F.C.

Position: Forward

He was with Al Assiouty in Egypt where he made 11 appearances. He was called for the Bafana Bafana squad and gave a splendid performance. That caught the eye of his current team which then offered him a more permanent post and a return to South Africa, his homeland. Not many are as technically gifted as the 20-year-old.

5. Siphesihle Ndlovu

Age: 22

Club: Orlando Pirates

Position: Midfielder

After Maritzburg, he was caught in a dilemma between Mamelodi Sundowns and the Bucs. He eventually decided to side with the stars in black and white because he was apparently attracted by their style of play. Ndlovu signed a contract that will bind him to the side for the next three years and SA is waiting in anticipation to see what the voted 2018/19 midfielder and young player of the season has to offer in the long-term.

Fans during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on October 26, 2013 in Soweto, South Africa.

(Oct. 25, 2013 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

6. Sipho Chaine

Age: 22

Club: Bloemfontein Celtic F.C.

Position: Goalkeeper

Chaine grew up in Bloemfontein and playing for Celtic has always been his dream. At Celtic, he aims to wear the number one jersey. He appeared in this year’s MTN 8 and hugely earmarked as one of the most promising football talents in the country.

7. Sibusiso Mabiliso

Age: 20

Club: Amazulu

Position: Defender

The ABSA Premiership player is one of the youngest players in the league which has an average age of 27 years old. The age advantage has made the player one of the most solicited players in the league. It’s true that defenders are like wine, they get better with age. Mabiliso however happens to be a rare taste.

PSL Awards: Tau crowned king and could Siphesihle Ndlovu follow his footsteps?

Inarguably the name that has dominated the South African football media throughout the 2017/18 campaign is at it again, this time with a few accolades besides it. Rightfully so, if you ask me. Percy Tau was the biggest winner on Tuesday night at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg where the ABSA Premiership Awards Gala was held. The 24-year-old was received the top two awards in South African football, the prestigious Footballer Of The Season Award and the Players’ Player Of The Season. He also shared the money with Polokwane City’s Rodney Ramagelela for the Top Scorer Award after banging striking eleven times for the PSL Champions, Mamelodi Sundowns. The Sundowns talisman will most likely be nominated for the CAF awards at the end of the year and rumors linking him to European clubs might not be far off now. The Mesut Ozil-like assist that he dished out to Sibusiso Vilakazi in their friendly against Barcelona shows glimpses of his quality and El Hadji Diouf’s praises and prophecy might come true after all.

On the contrary, not much has been said about Maritzburg United’s young playmaker, Siphesihle Ndlovu. The 21-year-old midfielder capped off his breakthrough the season by also getting a brace on the night, winning the ABSA Premiership Young Player Of The Season and the Midfielder Of The Season Awards. Ever since he joined the Team of Choice as the child, graduating from the ball-boy role, he has been on the up. At the time, they actually nicknamed him “Mbesuma,” after the former PSL Top Goal Scorer, Collins Mbesuma. Ndlovu became the first Maritzburg United player to win the ABSA Premiership Player Of The Month in January 2018 and went on to steer the team to a fourth-place finish. Leading up to the awards night, the youngster opened up on the reason behind his success:

I've never thought I could be nominated so soon, but also I think that anything is possible in this world‚ and that if you perform when you give 100 percent in every game‚ you're always focused‚ then anything can happen to you. From last season I was trying to make my way into Maritzburg‚ then when this season started the coach made me believe that I'm one of the best players in the world.” - Siphesihle Ndlovu, Maritzburg United

He received his first call to the Bafana Bafana camp in March 2018 for the Four Nations Tournament. Young Ndlovu is an exciting prospect that will surely turn heads in a few months time.

Here is the full list of all winners for the 2017/18 ABSA Premiership Season:

FOOTBALLER OF THE SEASON:

Percy Tau (Mamelodi Sundowns) — (USD)$ 19,960

ABSA Premiership Player’s Player of the Season:

Percy Tau (Mamelodi Sundowns) — (USD)$ 15,970

ABSA Premiership Coach of the Season:

Pitso Mosimane (Mamelodi Sundowns) — (USD)$ 5,990

ABSA Premiership Young Player of the Season:

Siphesihle Ndlovu (Maritzburg United) — (USD) $ 4,000

ABSA Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season:

Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs) — (USD) $ 4,000

ABSA Premiership Defender of the Season:

Siyanda Xulu (Maritzburg United) — (USD) $ 4,000

ABSA Premiership Midfielder of the Season:

Siphesihle Ndlovu (Maritzburg United) — (USD) $ 4,000

ABSA Premiership Goal of the Season:

Siphelele Magubane (L. Golden Arrows) — (USD) $ 4,000

MTN8 LAST MAN STANDING:

Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United) — (USD) $6,390

TELKOM KNOCKOUT PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT:

Amr Gamal (Bidvest Wits) — (USD) $ 15,970

NEDBANK CUP: Player of the Tournament:

Lebohang Maboe (Maritzburg United) — (USD) $ 11,980

NEDBANK CUP: Most Promising Player

Lebohang Maboe (Maritzburg United) — (USD)$ 4,000

MULTICHOICE Diski Challenge Precious Find:

Siboniso Conco (L. Golden Arrows) — (USD)$ 2,400

MULTICHOICE Diski Shield Precious Find:(USD) $ 11,980

Itumeleng Shopane (Kaizer Chiefs) — (USD)$ 2,400

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee of the Season — (USD)$ 4,000

Assistant Referee of the Season — (USD) $ 3,200