Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro and Stellenbosch FC striker Iqraam Rayners has been awarded the Coach and Player of the Month award for April.
Iqraam Rayners remains the only outfield player to win a monthly individual award this season after he was rewarded with the DStv Premiership Player of the Month for April. The Stellenbosch forward, who has been in a rich vein of scoring form since his recent return to the Cape Winelands, wins the award for the second month in succession.
In the three matches he featured for Stellies in April, Rayners notched up a brace each in victories over Swallows FC and Golden Arrows. He scored four goals which helped the coastal outfit to continue their climb up the log in a bid to secure a top 8 spot, proving once again why he has become such a key player in his team.
Orlando Pirates coach José Riveiro is closing off the season just like he opened it, as he scooped the DStv Premiership Coach of the Month for April, in an overwhelming majority following receiving 100% of the votes from the judging panel made up of football media, commentators and analysts.
The Spaniard now wins the monthly individual accolade in South Africa for the second time after he got it in his first month in charge of the Buccaneers back in August. The soft-spoken tactician was rewarded with the award owing the scintillating form by his side, winning four of their matches and scoring eight goals in the process.
He masterminded some incredible results beating Richards Bay, Chippa United, Cape Town City and TS Galaxy, which has seen Pirates remain strong contenders for the second CAF Champions League spot for next season.
Cape Town City forward Khanyiso Mayo, goal poacher Ranga Chivaviro of Marumo Gallants and Orlando Pirates’ midfielder Kabelo Dlamini are some of the players that also impressed the judges in April, while Raymond Mdaka of Marumo Gallants and Stellenbosch FC’s Steve Barker were the two coaches that received great mentions from the panel.
For their recognition, all the winning coaches and players will each receive a trophy and R7,000 courtesy of league sponsors, DStv.
Photo by Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
