PSL's young player award may be poisoned chalice

With the Premier Soccer League (PSL) soon to bring down the curtain on another season, one of the more widely debated accolades will come under scrutiny and the young player of the year award will once again put an emerging talent under the microscope.

Though Jomo Sono - a man who can usually spot a gem from a distance - advocated for the gong to be kept on, it has often been a poisoned chalice.

The previous winners, with the exception of Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Thulani Serero, who was voted Absa Premiership best young player in the 2010/11 campaign while he was at Ajax Cape Town, have seen their careers somewhat stall.

Jomo Cosmos owner Sono ran the rule over the progress of Clifford Ngobeni, Bongani Khumalo, Siyanda Xulu, Ronwen Williams and, recently, Keagan Dolly. He argued that the strides made by Serero and SuperSport United goalkeeper Williams especially, strengthened the logic behind the award, while their counterparts reinforced the view that the award was a bad omen.

"It depends on the individual," he said. "For some this award quickly goes to the head and they lose sight of what actually won them the honour. And then others get a boost and enjoy seeing their careers pushed further. I am totally behind the idea of seeing youngsters rewarded."

He shared some interesting views about why Ngobeni and Khumalo have struggled to reach their full potential. Ngobeni, then at Ajax Cape Town, was recognised for what was viewed as a successful rookie campaign in top-flight football during the 2006/07 season.

"He was hot property when he won and his career has just been complicated by a lot of things since then," Sono said of Ngobeni, who is only 26 but is one of the PSL's forgotten men.

"I guess injuries and growing up also have a lot to do with it."

Sono, a former Bafana Bafana coach, had harsh words for Khumalo, who joined English club Tottenham Hotspur from SuperSport in a R15-million move four years ago. The former national team skipper has failed to make the grade, being sent out on loan spells by Spurs.

Sono said: "Yes, he [Khumalo] played in the 2010 World Cup, but sometimes as a national team coach you pick players because they are good and some you select because you've been asked to. I honestly don't think his career has moved on.

"Serero made the most of it. Williams was unfortunate to play for Bafana against Brazil and concede five goals. For me, he is one of the three best goalkeepers in the country."

Williams, 23, is the only player in the past seven seasons to win the award twice. Dolly, another Ajax Cape Town player, succeeded him last year and Sono hopes the winger, who is headed to big spenders Mamelodi Sundowns in August, can rediscover his form. "I feel like signing for Sundowns might have distracted him, but let's hope he will grow."

Dolly said even though there is a history of previous recipients going off the boil, the accolade had actually made him more responsible. "The award improved my lifestyle and made me more responsible as a person and a player."