Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic and Black Leopards’ Mwape Musonda have been named as the Absa Premiership Coach and Player of the Month for March/April respectively.
Both the Serbian-born coach and the Zambian forward have returned to the stage at the Premier Soccer League offices for the coveted monthly individual awards for the second time during this thrilling 2018-19 Absa Premiership season.
CONGRATULATIONS to @orlandopirates coach, @michocoach . The #AbsaPrem coach of the month (March/April 2019). pic.twitter.com/tT9qL1VolN
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) May 2, 2019
The Buccaneers played six matches during the period 1 March – 24 April, and Sredojevic guided them to four wins and two draws, collecting 14 points out of a possible 18. The Absa Premiership title-chasing side grabbed home wins over Leopards and Free State Stars, beat Bidvest Wits and Maritzburg United away and drew with Mamelodi Sundowns during that period.
The judging panel praised Sredojevic for instilling a winning culture within the team, tightening the defence and also for having shaped Pirates well in these latter stages of the season to have his team’s short-term objectives tailored to win the league title. His colleagues Josef Vukusic of Polokwane City and SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo were praised for an impressive run of results with their respective teams.
CONGRATULATIONS to @lidodaduvha striker, Mwape Musonda. The #AbsaPrem player of the Month (March/April 2019) pic.twitter.com/2At4kLXfbV
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) May 2, 2019
Musonda, the in-form Black Leopards forward, scored a hat-trick in his side’s come-from-behind victory over Chippa United, and then also scored in three successive matches during the March/April period. He has largely been superb in front of goal, despite his side’s inconsistent run of results, scoring six goals in Leopard’s four games during this time. Thanks to his efforts, Black Leopards sit just above the relegation zone with only a couple of matches left to play until the end of the Absa Premiership 2018-2019 campaign. Musonda, who was the top goal-scorer in the National First Division last season, has opened a huge gap atop the Absa Premiership top-scorers’ chart with 14 goals to his name.
Other players who were in contention for the award included Mxolisi Macuphu of SuperSport United and the Polokwane City pair of Mohammed Anas and George Chigova.
Sredojevic and Musonda will each receive R5 000 from Absa, proud sponsors of the Absa Premiership. Absa congratulates both the coach and player on winning their respective accolades for March/April.
CONGRATULATIONS to @KaizerChiefs striker, Khama Billiat. The #AbsaPrem Goal of the Month (March 2019) winner as voted by YOU on https://t.co/PzR59r1S72 pic.twitter.com/g51VGuztO2
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) May 2, 2019
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs’ Khama Billiat took home the Absa Premiership Goal of the Month award for March. The Zimbabwean attacker scored a scintillating curling goal from 25 yards to equalise for Amakhosi in their 1-1 draw against SuperSport United in early March. He also takes home R5 000 for his effort.