Rashford wins big at Man United awards.

Marcus Rashford was the biggest winner on Monday night during the Manchester United end of the season awards ceremony.

Rashford walked away with the Player of the Season Award, which made him only the second Man United Academy graduate behind club legend, Ryan Giggs, to win the award.

And it didn't end there for the forward, as his teammates voted him as the Players players of the Season, ahead of another top contender, David De Gea, who has won the award a whopping four times.

It must be said, Rashford deserves his accolades, having been a notable contributor in the team's revival.

Rashford scored 30 goals, while contributing eleven assists across all competitions, playing a major role in helping United finish third in the English Premier League table.

Another winner was Antony Matheus Dos Santos, simply known as Antony.

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The 23-year-old Brazilian winger scooped the Goal of the Year Award for his sublime strike against Barcelona.

Although he didn't contribute as much as he was expected for United this season, he did however, score four goals, and provided two assists in 25 matches.

Former Bafana Bafana forward, and AmaZulu coach, Benni McCarthy, who currently working at United as a forward's coach, must be satisfied with his contribution in Rashford's resurgence this season,

Benni was credited for his help with the player finding his scoring boots and hunger for goals, with Rashford himself, speaking highly of him.

United will be hoping to wrap up their season on a high note by winning the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday at Wembley Stadium against Manchester City. 

Riveiro sets his sights on the CAFCL.

Having had a fantastic domestic season, where they won the MTN8 and the Nedbank Cup titles, also finishing second on the league, Orlando Pirates have every right to dream of bigger fish to fry, like the CAF Champions League.

And that is exactly what Pirates coach, Jose Riveiro, has set his sights on.

Riveiro says he is optimistic that Pirates can go all the way in Africa.

With their rich history in the continent, having managed to reach four finals, with two Champions League, of which they won one, and two CAF Confederations Cup, plus their recent revival, anything is possible.

"What are we going to do in Africa, dream…dream and we have the potential to go all the way, I’m a very optimistic person, I told you guys many times, don’t get me wrong with my face, I’m very optimistic," Riveiro said as quoted by iDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/caf-champions-league/riveiro-makes-bold-cafcl-statement-citing-sundowns/

"So when I start a tournament, I’m going with the intention to go all the way. Then let’s see, we’re going to find difficult trips, difficult opponents, difficult decisions from the referees, it’s a difficult competition, it is."

Riveiro says if Sundowns can do as well as they did in the CAFCL last season, so can Pirates.

ALSO READ: David De Gea on the FA Cup final: http://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/we-will-try-absolutely-everything-to.html

"But Sundowns did a fantastic job this season, they showed it’s possible for South African teams to compete until the last stages, so why not? We go little by little, we all start from zero again in every competition and we will face everyone with the intention to compete."

Bucs are also expected to put on a real fight for the DStv Premiership title next season, having shown great promise in the previous campaign, and finally end Sundowns dominance in the domestic football scene.

We will try absolutely everything to win - De Gea.

Manchester United goalkeeper, David De Gea, says they will try everything to win when they take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday 03 June at Wembley Stadium.

The English Premier League Golden Glove Award winner, who saved a penalty in Man United's last 2-1 win over Fulham during the weekend, added that for the whole year they have been working to be in a position to win titles, and they will give Saturday a full go.

"Tomorrow we recover and we start to prepare for [the final]," De Gea told MUTV.

"We know it’s a big final, a special game, and the whole year we’ve been fighting to be in the position to win titles and we will try absolutely everything to try to win."

De Gea, who has been fantastic between the sticks for United this season, is happy with the improvement the club has shown compared to the 2021/22 season.

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"The improvement is there, of course, we still have far [to go] but [it is] a massive improvement from last season.

Having already won the Carabao Cup, and managed a third place finish which takes United back to the UEFA Champions League, De Gea believes they had a great season.

He also credits United boss, Erik Ten Hag for their revival this season, who always emphasizes focus and the will to win every match.

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"Winning a cup, finishing third, it’s never easy to finish in Champions League places in England, and then we have another final, a big final – I think at the moment it is a great year.

"The manager wants us to be focused every game, to win every game.

"He was shouting before the game ‘come on guys, we have to finish properly, winning mentality."

Injury woes for Guardiola ahead of Manchester Derby.

Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, is hoping five of his key players, including Kevin De Bruyne, will recover in time from their small injuries and exhaustion ahead of the FA Cup final battle against Manchester United.

Guardiola made seven changes to his team in their 1-0 loss to Brentford on Sunday, mostly forced by injuries and exhaustion.

“We have four or five players with niggles, not big injuries, but they are injuries,” said Guardiola as quoted by amp.mancity.com

“The guys who didn’t play here were really, really exhausted the day before and mentally, they were completely drained.

“The guys who are in Manchester - Ruben didn't train for 10 days, Jack Grealish, as well.

“After the game against Brighton, Kevin felt the same feelings that he had before, weeks ago when he could not play a few games. It is what it is.

“It's not a big issue, I think they will be ready. They have to be ready for the training sessions and I am going to see them in three days and that's why today was so important to see these players and how they are.

ALSO READ: Mokoena, Williams, win big during PSL Awards: http://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/mokoena-williams-prove-their-doubters.html

“Phil is in incredible form, Riyad as well, Cole was so active in many things.

“To play the finals we have to play the guys who feel better. Not because they played a lot of minutes.

“That’s why it was good to play with these guys and rest the other ones and hopefully the other ones can recover.

“The guys who played today deserved to and it’s important for me to see how they feel.

“And Nathan (returned) after being injured. Aymer (Laporte) came back again and played 90 minutes."

Rest and recovery will be key for Guardiola's men, with the all important UEFA Champions League final to follow after the Manchester Derby.

One player though, who hasn't had much rest, is Kyle Walker.

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“Unfortunately for Kyle I could not give him time to rest because we didn’t have many substitutions.

“But they needed to rest now, to arrive with the right energy and that is going to happen against United and after in the next game in the Champions League.

“Wednesday they will train and recover tomorrow. Hopefully (they will be OK), but right now, I don’t know.”

Mokoena, Williams, prove their doubters wrong.

It is now history that Teboho Mokoena (Footballer and midfielder of the season) and Ronwen Williams (Goalkeeper of the season) were big winners in the PSL awards held on Sunday evening.

For Williams, who was said to have committed career suicide by switching to Mamelodi Sundowns from neighbors SuperSport United at the beginning of the 2022/23 season, winning the goalkeeper of the season is more of an egg to the faces of those who expected him to play second fiddle to Denis Onyango.

Given a chance in the beginning of the campaign, Williams quickly showed why he is South Africa's number one, by keeping clean sheet after clean sheet, pulling off some brilliant saves at times, making the goalkeeping spot his own.

More than anything, it is how Williams fitted perfectly within the Sundowns style of play that was impressive, which includes a lot of build ups from the back.

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Comfortable with the ball on his feet, Williams added an extra dimension to Downs cutting edge football.

He went on to play 26 League matches for Sundowns, conceding nine goals and keeping a record breaking 18 clean sheets.

If you include all competitions, Williams appeared 41 times for Downs, with 25 goals conceded and 22 clean sheets.

As for Mokoena, it was a season where he showed how good he can be if he worked a little bit harder, off the ball that is.

His exploits on the ball are well documented, he can play.

But it is his work out of possession that, at times, left a lot to be desired. When he replaced Andile Jali as a Sundowns number six, a lot of Downs supporters were unhappy, some went as far as saying he was not Downs material.

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But Tebza, a fighter, knuckled down and did a fantastic job in the Sundowns midfield, appearing 39 times across all competitions, with two goals scored, and three assists in his name.

Williams, and Mokoena, both born leaders, played a huge role in Downs' record breaking season,

They also have a big role to play for Sundowns and the national team going forward, and their awards were well deserved too!

Pirates expected to raid the transfer market, with the CAFCL in mind.

While continuity will be a priority for Orlando Pirates head coach, Jose RiveiroJose Riveiro, to build on the success of the 2022/23 season, he says they will also be active in the transfer market to strengthen the squad.

Pirates showed great improvement under Riveiro, by playing with a clear identity, with a lot of tactical discipline which saw them finishing the season with the second best defensive record in the league behind champions, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Having qualified for the CAF Champions League, competition they would love to give a good go, and their ambition to wrestle the Dstv PremiershipDstv Premiership title away from from Sundowns, Pirates will have no choice but to make important additions to their playing personnel.

"It’s a market, players are coming and going every season, I hope not many, it’s important to give continuity to the things we built already," said Riveiro as quoted by iDiski TimesiDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/nedbank-cup/riveiro-on-pirates-off-season-transfer-plans/

"But again probably it’s our obligation, it’s mandatory for us to always have one eye on the market to look at opportunities to improve the squad, the coaching staff, everything because we need to do it, we want to compete and we have to move forward.

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"We can’t think now everything is alright, Riveiro this and the players [are] that, no, we have to be critical [on ourselves], because there are reasons to do that and look for opportunities to make us better as a team."

Pirates did make some interesting signings in the 2022/23 seasons, the three most notable ones being the experienced duo of Kermit Erasmus, former Amazulu midfield hard man, Makhehlene Makhaula, and national team goalkeeper, Melusi Buthelezi.

It will be in offensive positions where Bucs might look to bolster their squad, having relied heavily on Monnapule Saleng in the season that's just ended. 

There will be more finals - Truter.

Sekhukhune United head coach, Brandon Truter, has every reason to believe his side will reach more cup finals.

Sekhukhune proved beyond any reasonable doubt that they can box against the best when they pushed Orlando Pirates to the limit in their 2-1 Nedbank Cup loss on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

Although aging a bit, Sekhukhune players have shown they still have hunger for the game and success that comes with winning.

Having lifted them up from the depths of the relegation zone, Truter has managed to get the best out of players like Edwin Gyimah and Sipho Ntiya-Ntiya, who seem to have found a new lease on life under his guidance.

The addition of talented duo, Kamohelo Mokotjo and Sibusiso Viakazi has added much needed depth in Truter's squad.

Judging by their performances in the second half of the season, and their spirited display against Pirates on Saturday, there is only one way that Babina Noko are headed, and that is all the way up.

"I think it was a good final for the supporters, a good advert for Nedbank. Of course, we scored early, and they scored the last goal and won it," said a proud Truter as quoted by SABC Sport.

"I'm extremely proud of the boys, with the strides made this season – so many accolades, so many achievements, so I can't be bitter about this result.

"I'm sure there will be more finals with the progression in the team, but other than that, you wake up in the morning with expectations and the day will end with experiences."

ALSO READ: If happiness was a football club, that club would be Orlando Pirates: http://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/happiness-lives-at-orlando-pirates.html

By virtue of reaching the Nedbank Cup final, with winners Pirates set to take part in the CAF Champions League, Sekhukhune will find themselves in the CAF Confederations Cup next season.