Daine Klate and Gavin Hunt named October Player and Coach of the Month

This week the Absa Premiership has officially reached the half way mark, and the battle for league honours promises to get better. So has the race amongst the players.

In ongoing recognition of the players and coaches who have had a major impact on their teams' performance during the past month, a new panel of judges gathered at the Premier Soccer League’s offices to decide who would be the Absa Premiership Player and Coach of the Month for October.

The selection of the three top players was a unanimous decision as the trio outplayed and outshone their peers.

The top three nominees were Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Erwin Isaacs (Santos) and Daine Klate (SuperSport United). The judges felt Mphela has kept his Bafana Bafana goal scoring momentum to help Sundowns win a number of games. He has also taken the lead as the Absa Premiership top goal scorer, having scored 10 goals in 13 games in the period leading up to the end of October.

The second nominee, Isaacs, has claimed his space and stamped his authority on the game. Isaacs has set the field ablaze with his skill and helped Santos soar to greater heights.

Klate who walks off as the Player of the Month, was described as ‘having improved five-fold’. "He has enhanced his defensive abilities and is attacking fiercely," the judge added.

On the coaching front, the top contenders were Boebie Solomons (Santos) and Gavin Hunt (SuperSport United). Solomons has managed to build a strong team and has been the person responsible for Santos working as a team. However, that was not enough and he lost out to Hunt by only one point.

This is the second time Hunt has been rewarded for his sterling ability; last month he shared the spotlight with Roger De Sa (Bidvest Wits). Hunt led his players to a 3-0 win over Pirates and a 5-0 win over Mpumalanga Black Aces, which was Aces’, first loss at home.

"The objective of the monthly Absa Premiership Player and Coach of the Month Awards is to motivate and encourage the players and the coaches to strive toward unleashing their potential," said Steward Masela, Absa Sponsorship Consultant.

"When you have a look at the nominees for both players and coaches this month, it's a good reflection of the quality of the soccer being played."

Meanwhile Premier Soccer League CEO, Kjetil Siem, added: “With the season now at the halfway stage, I’m pleased at the performances of all the players as well as the coaches. Despite the congested fixture list, they have given their best so far and I must congratulate all the monthly winners as well as the nominees,” adds Siem.

The Red Hot Young Player for this month is none other than SuperSport United’s 19-year-old Thandani Ntshumayelo who impressed the judges tremendously.