I am the testimony of hard work - Mokoena.

The big winner at the PSL end of the Season Awards, Teboho Mokoena of Mamelodi Sundowns, says he is the testimony of hard work, and touched on Manchester City midfielder, Rodri's influence on his game.

Mokoena was speaking after he walked away with the Dstv Premiership Footballer of the Season, and Midfielder of the Season Awards.

"Firstly I would like to thank everyone at the club, the supporters, the players, the technical team, the Motsepe family, my family and the coaches that voted for me," he told sundownsfc.co.za.

"I’m very happy to win the awards. I am the testimony of hard work. Hard work pays off and I am the definition of answered prayers."

Mokoena mentions coach Rulani Mokwena's encouragement as one of the catalysts in his superb 2022 23 season.

He says watching Rodri from Man City also helped his own game.

ALSO READ: Neo Maema reflects on the 2022/23 season: http://thesundownsspace.blogspot.com/2023/05/maema-reflects-on-202223-season.html

"Coach Rulani has reminded me throughout the season that my job is to protect the defense so that we concede fewer goals as a team. I did a lot of work with the Coach. I started being interested in Rodri Hernandez and watching Manchester City as well as how he moves and defends," continued Tebza.

Tebza has vowed to continue doing the dirty work for the team, something he did with aplomb last season, despite doubts over his capacity to handle the demanding defensive midfield position at Sundowns.

"I will always do the dirty work for the team, score, and assist when needed, but I know there are players that will do that. My job is to protect the team and defend because I know that the players in front of me will score. My target for this season was to play regularly and perform well." 

Maema reflects on the 2022/23 season.

His performances for the trailblazing Mamelodi Sundowns team, especially under Rulani Mokwena's tutelage, have seen growing calls for Neo Maema to be included in the Bafana Bafana squad.

However, it seems like Bafana boss, Hugo Broos, has other ideas.

Reflecting on the season gone by, Maema says it was a difficult one, but feels it was much better than his first season at the club.

As a team, he feels Sundowns did very well.

Maema formed a deadly combination with Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane, and Marcelo Allende within the Sundowns midfield diamond this season.

Maema's importance in the Mamelodi Sundowns system, is reflected through his 39 appearances for the club last season, where he scored seven goals and came up with five assists.

"It was a very difficult season, I embraced all the good things that happened [and it was] a better season unlike my first season when I came here." Maema told sundownsfc.co.za.

"I just wanna say that as a team we did very well, sometimes we lost fewer games and broke a lot of records. I think we did very well, it’s a season where we embraced the good things that happened for us."

ALSO READ: Teboho Mokoena is wearing heavy boots that once belonged to giants: http://thesundownsspace.blogspot.com/2023/05/teboho-mokoena-wearing-boots-that-once.html

He mentions adapting quicker in the CAFCL games among others, as one of his challenges last season.

But adapt he did, until his red card against Wydad AC in the CAFCL semi-final first leg in Morocco.

"The difficulties that I faced this season mostly I’d say it’s getting to adapt quicker into the games [like] the CAF Champions League, the cup games and how fast the games were coming up.

"I just want to get the hang of it and that’s what I would like to adapt quicker and make sure that in my position I play to the best of my abilities to make sure that team goes forward. Those are the types of things that I wanna change from this season and hopefully next season I will be better."