Baroka FC chairman, Khurishi Mphahlele IMAGE:GIFT NDOLWANE

By GIFT NDOLWANE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – UPBEAT Baroka FC chairman, Khurishi Mphahlele, believes his team is defying its detractors by topping the Premier Soccer League table and having a player creating history by being the first African and goalkeeper among the top contenders for the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) Puskas Award.
Such is the exciting times at Baroka that the chairman even believes his coach, Kgologo Thobejane, deserved the season’s first Absa Premiership Coach of the Month award.
“We are unmoved for coming second best. Football will judge. We won’t complain but will support panel making those decision,” he said.
His sentiments came after Golden Arrows’ Clinton Larsen pipped Thobejane and Benni McCarthy of Cape Town City for the monthly award.
Mphahlele also revived the debate around the goal by goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke, to back his assertion that “football will judge.”
The goal is among the top three nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award, which on Monday will be handed out to the individual that scores a goal fans vote for as the best for 2016/17.
Masuluke scored the goal last November as he latched onto Orlando Pirates keeper Thapelo Mabokgwane’s punched clearance in stoppage-time, let the ball bounce once on top of the penalty area, before unleashing a bicycle kick that sailed into the net to secure a draw.
It made waves around the globe but was pipped by an effort by Kaizer Chiefs star, Siphiwe Tshabalala, for the 2016/17 PSL Goal of the Season.
“They (fans) chose whoever they wanted but now our goal is in the FIFA Puskas,” Mphahlele said matter-of-factly.
“Which team in this PSL has ever had a player going to Puskas Awards?” he asked rhetorically.
Mphahlele also was full of praise for his league-topping side. With 15 points, Baroka are two points ahead of Arrows.
“To date, other teams have never been in number one spot on the log. Some were even relegated (without topping the standings).”
The chairman pointed out his team Ga-Mphahlele has ever been underrated since promotion to the first division in 2013.
“The season we gained promotion to the PSL (2015/16) pundits never gave us a chance in title. We were listed among teams to be relegation candidates but we won outright promotion.”
Mphahlele in conclusion expressed gratitude to their latest sponsor, Two Mountains, the funeral services provider.
– CAJ News