Last season, Mamelodi Sundowns’ Teboho Mokoena beat Orlando Pirates star Monnapule Saleng and fellow Downs teammate Ronwen Williams to the accolade.

This sparked a major debate on social media and among fans with many adamant Bucs’ Saleng deserved the award ahead of the tough-as-nails midfield workhorse.

And this season also promises just as much drama and debate with there already being mixed opinions as to who deserves the big award at the end of the season.

Once again Mokoena’s name is in the mix, this time with a new Bucs star in Patrick Maswanganyi and a familiar foe for this particular accolade in teammate Williams.

However, there are no guarantees at this stage that either of the aforementioned players will clinch the award this year with some shock options emerging as candidates of late.

GOAL looks at some of these “underdogs”, for lack of a better word, in the race for the coveted Player of the Season award this season.

Iqraam Rayners

The speedy forward is making a strong case, especially of late, where he has banged in six goals in his last two PSL matches to soar to the summit of the PSL Golden Boot rankings.

Rayners is having a solid season with Stellies having banged in 13 league goals this season, clearly enjoying his return to the Winelands after a brief and frustrating stay in the capital of Gauteng with SuperSport United.

His impressive exploits this season have helped him break into Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana squad and also landed him on the shopping list of some of the top clubs in the country as he is linked with the likes of Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs.

Lehlohonolo Mojela

The TS Galaxy attacker has enjoyed a good run of form in his debut season in the PSL with the team from Mpumalanga, becoming one of the first names on coach Sead Ramovic’s starting sheet.

The former Casric Stars man has netted four goals and provided one assist in the league. He has netted seven times for the Rockets in all competitions this term.

Mojela came close to guiding the Rockets to the Carling Knockout Cup earlier this season as he scored in the final against Stellenbosch FC, a match they went on to lose on penalties.

Lucas Ribeiro

In what is only his first season in the PSL, the Brazilian has taken to South African football like a duck to water, showing his quality and class whenever he’s been fit for Sundowns.

For the better part of the campaign, Ribeiro was the top scorer in the league until injuries hampered his progress and allowed the likes of Tshegofatso Mabasa and Rayners to catch up and as of recently, surpass his tally.

Tshegofatso Mabasa

The ‘Sniper’, as he is known, might have started the season as surplus to requirements at Pirates, however, he has now become a key member of Jose Riveiro’s squad.

Mabasa was shipped off on loan to struggling Moroka Swallows where, despite all the troubles surrounding the club, still managed to showcase his killer eye for goal.

He has since returned to the Buccaneers and assumed the goalscoring responsibilities from the struggling pair of  Evidence Makgopa and Zakhele Lepasa.

Having scored 13 goals this season so far and in the hunt for the Golden Boot, it is only right that Mabasa is at the very least also in the conversation for the Player of the Season award.

Patrick Maswanganyi

The 26-year-old joined Pirates from SuperSport United at the beginning of the season with little excitement surrounding his move, but boy has he proven to be a gem.

‘Tito’, as the skilful midfielder is fondly known, has undoubtedly been one of the signings of the season with his performances earning him some much-deserved plaudits from all corners.

He has bagged an astonishing nine Man of the Match awards in all competitions this season, signalling his impact as he is more often than not the man who pulls all the strings in midfield.

His numbers are also not too shabby having rattled the back of the net on nine occasions while putting it on the platter for his teammates on ten occasions.

Ronwen Williams

The Sundowns goal-minder is back in the conversation again after he fell short to teammate Mokoena last season after what was a debut campaign to remember for the Tshwane giants.

After breaking records last season with his heroics between the sticks, the former SuperSport United custodian has picked up where he left off this season with equally impressive outings.

He has been described as an “unorthodox frontrunner” for the award by his coach Rhulani Mokwena who has lauded the keeper for his overall contribution to the team in the way he helps the team build from the back.

Williams’ exploits in national team colours at the latest Africa Cup of Nations where he helped Bafana finish third and claimed the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award will also work in his favour.

Teboho Mokoena

The ever-consistent Downs midfielder was the big winner last season as he walked away with the  Midfielder of the Season and the big Player of the Season awards.

While many celebrated him winning the big award, others insisted it should have gone to Pirates' Saleng who had also enjoyed a stellar campaign.

But Mokoena has since proven that last season’s performance was not a fluke as he continues to dish out match-winning displays from the middle of the park for the Brazilians.

Mokoena has also proven his mettle at a higher level with Bafana Bafana at the Afcon in Ivory Coast where he was one of the best performers for Broos’ side as they finished third.