Nam's top PSL players

Nam's top PSL playersOld and new recognised Bidvest Wits winger Deon Hotto and Highlands Park forward Peter Shalulile, through tremendous hard work, have a chance to pave the way for the rest in the dog-eat-dog world of the PSL. LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK



Two of Namibia's top players, winger Deon Hotto and forward Peter Shalulile, have established themselves as some of the best attackers in the Premier South African League (PSL).

For next season Hotto has signed a three-year deal with Orlando Pirates, whereas Shalulile is enjoying an N$30 million price tag and many football fans say he has the quality to join a top side in Europe.

At the moment the two are arguably the most sought-after players, but there have been many talented Namibian players who have graced the PSL since the competition was established 24 years ago.

Namibian Sun asked former footballer Collin Benjamin and veteran sport journalist Carlos Kambaekwa to pick their top five in the PSL.

Benjamin chose Mohammed 'Slice' Ouseb, Robert Nauseb, Ricardo Mannetti, Hotto and Shalulile. Kambaekwa picked Ouseb, Fillemon Kanalelo, Hotto, Shalulile and Henrico 'Henna' Botes.

OUSEB: The 46-year-old Ouseb, born and raised in Tsumeb, previously played for club Kaizer Chiefs as a defender. He won Chiefs' Player of the Year award for the 1998/99 season, which was his debut campaign. He had an opportunity to captain the Soweto giants during his three-year spell and won the 1998 Rothmans Cup and 2000 Bob Save Super Bowl.

NAUSEB: The 45-year-old, Otjiwarongo-born midfield maestro was on the books of Chiefs between 1997 and 2001. He helped Chiefs clinch the 1998 Rothmans Cup (Telkom Knockout Cup) and 2000 Bob Save Super Bowl (Nedbank Cup). Nauseb also played for Hellenic, Santos, Bloemfontein Celtic and Ajax Cape Town, where he scored a crucial goal which ensured that the club retained its status in the PSL in 2003.

BOTES: The former Warriors captain left his mark in football, having arrived in the country in 2005 and joining Moroka Swallows. Botes spent two seasons with Swallows before he moved to Platinum Stars where he established himself as one of the top centre forwards in the PSL. He was influential for the now-defunct Stars as they clinched the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout Cup in 2013, and also helped the team finish second on the 2012/13 Absa Premiership log. The player, who was Stars' all-time leading goal-scorer with 53 goals, had a two-year spell with Wits and he was part of the student team that finished second in the league in the 2015/16 season.

KANALELO: Nicknamed 'The Magnet', Kanalelo, played from 1991-1997 with Blue Waters in the Namibia Premier League and from 1997-2005 with Sundowns. He helped Sundowns clinch the 1998 Bob Save Super Bowl and 1999 Rothmans Cup. He also played internationally for Namibia from 1992 - 1999.

MANNETTI: The former Warriors head coach competed for the national team from 1994 to 2003, including the 1998 Afcon. He is best remembered for his time with Santos where he played his best football as a central midfielder. The 45-year-old Mannetti helped the People's Team clinch the PSL title during the 2001/02 campaign, having joined the team in 1997. Mannetti then lifted the 2002 BP Top 8 Cup (MTN8) and 2003 Absa Cup (Nedbank Cup) with Santos and he left the club having made 123 competitive appearances.

- Adapted from SuperSport