Key men in the DStv Premiership top four

The leading four teams in the DStv Premiership have led something of a breakaway from the rest of the pack as they seek reward for their league placing this season.

The championship looks to be heading to Mamelodi Sundowns, but the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup places are very much up for grabs.

In all teams there are key players who drive them forward. We pick one from each of the top four teams who could be their catalyst to achieve their aims.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS – THEMBA ZWANE

There are match-winners across the park for Sundowns and they have several key stars such as leading scorer Lucas Ribeiro, Teboho Mokoena and Ronwen Williams. But it is hard to look past 34-year-old Themba Zwane, who continues to make them tick and when he is on song, the team ‘sings’. It has been an incredible season for them.

STELLENBOSCH FC – DEVIN TITUS

Iqraam Rayners is an obvious dangerman for Stellenbosch FC and the emergence of Andre de Jong and Thabo Moloisane as big influences on the team has been impressive. But it is the goals and assists of Devin Titus that have been most eye-catching this season, as the wing has netted nine times this campaign, six of them in the league. He has been credited with another three assists to take his goals contribution tally for the campaign to 12 in 26 games.

ORLANDO PIRATES – TSHEGOFATSO MABASA

The striker did not spend the first six months of the season at Pirates as he went on loan to Moroka Swallows, where he netted six times. But he returned in January and has been a revelation since, not just with his goals but also his hold-up play as a No 9 targetman striker. He has scored eight goals in eight starts for The Buccaneers since his return, so had 14 in 18 starts for both Soweto sides. He will be massive for them in these closing weeks of the season.

SEKHUKHUNE UNITED – ELIAS MOKWANA

Chibuike Ohizu has been providing goals recently, but it is the exciting wing play of Mokwana that has been the game-breaker for Sekhukhune. There are very few genuine wingers in the DStv Premiership that can run at defenders and leave them on their backside, but he is one of those. He has contributed four goals in 20 starts himself, and the biggest battle Sekhukhune may now face is keeping hold of him for next season. …