Tyren Arendse Weighs In on Marcelo Allende’s PSL Awards Debate
Former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Tyren Arendse has entered the debate surrounding Marcelo Allende’s recognition in South African football awards after Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso questioned why the Chilean has not received greater individual recognition. Allende has once again been producing influential performances for Sundowns and recently played a major role in their dramatic MTN8 semi-final victory over Golden Arrows. His consecutive Man of the Match awards have strengthened the argument that he deserves more attention when individual honours are discussed. Cardoso openly expressed his frustration at Allende’s continued absence from end-of-season accolades, particularly the Midfielder of the Season award. Arendse understands the coach’s argument but believes there are strong reasons why Allende could not be selected ahead of certain players during the previous campaign.
Allende’s consistency has been one of the most notable aspects of his time in South African football. The Chilean midfielder has established himself as an important component of the Sundowns team and has regularly produced performances that influence matches. His latest showing against Golden Arrows further demonstrated his ability to perform when the pressure is high, as Sundowns secured a 3-2 victory in the second leg of their MTN8 semi-final. The result saw the two teams finish 3-3 on aggregate, with Sundowns progressing to the final on away goals. Allende’s successive Man of the Match awards have once again placed his individual performances under the spotlight.
Cardoso’s comments after the Golden Arrows match reflected his belief that Allende’s consistency deserves greater recognition. The Sundowns coach questioned why the midfielder has never received the Midfielder of the Season award despite performing at a high level for several years. Cardoso also pointed to the fact that the award went to a player operating primarily as a winger, which appeared to be a reference to Orlando Pirates star Oswin Appollis. His comments reopened a wider discussion about how South African football awards assess players who operate in different attacking and midfield roles. While coaches naturally have strong reasons to advocate for their players, the debate has highlighted the difficulty of comparing players who contribute to teams in different ways.
Arendse, who has represented both Pirates and Sundowns during his playing career, believes Allende is undoubtedly a quality footballer. However, he does not agree that the Chilean should have been selected ahead of Relebohile Mofokeng based on what happened during the previous season. Arendse argued that Mofokeng’s contribution to Pirates’ league-winning campaign made it extremely difficult to overlook the young attacker when assessing the best individual performers. He acknowledged that the debate was open to interpretation but maintained that Mofokeng’s season was too impressive to dismiss. His comments provide a perspective from someone who understands the demands of playing in midfield and competing for individual recognition in the Premier Soccer League.
The former midfielder also made an important distinction between the Midfielder of the Season award and the overall Player of the Season honour. While Arendse could understand the argument that Allende may have deserved consideration for the midfield award, he was much more emphatic about Mofokeng’s case for the broader individual prize. According to Arendse, Mofokeng’s performances during Pirates’ title-winning campaign made it difficult to argue that another player should have been selected as the best player overall. This distinction is important because individual awards often depend on the criteria used by the voting panel. A player can have an outstanding season without necessarily being regarded as the best performer across every category.
Arendse also addressed Cardoso’s criticism of Appollis receiving recognition in a midfield category despite regularly playing as a winger. He believes Appollis was not an unreasonable choice because the player frequently moved into central areas and contributed to his team’s midfield play. Modern football has become increasingly fluid, with attacking players often changing positions during matches and operating between traditional lines. As a result, categorising players strictly according to their listed positions can become complicated. Arendse’s comments suggest that Appollis’ role should be assessed according to how he actually influenced matches rather than simply where he was listed on a team sheet.
The debate also highlights the challenge faced by award organisers when evaluating players from different tactical systems. Allende’s role at Sundowns requires him to contribute to possession, progression and attacking phases while operating within a team known for its technical approach. Mofokeng has developed into a highly influential attacking player for Pirates, while Appollis has shown versatility in different areas of the pitch. Comparing those players requires more than simply looking at their nominal positions. Their contributions must also be considered in the context of their teams, responsibilities and performances throughout the season.
For Allende, the latest debate could nevertheless provide further recognition of the quality he has displayed over several seasons. Individual awards are often influenced by timing, team success, statistics and the voting preferences of the panel, meaning consistent performances do not always result in trophies. The Chilean has continued to demonstrate his importance to Sundowns, and his recent performances suggest he remains capable of influencing major matches. Winning consecutive Man of the Match awards during a crucial cup tie has provided another example of his ability to perform under pressure. Whether that eventually translates into an end-of-season award remains uncertain.
Arendse’s comments also demonstrate the respect that Allende has earned from former players, even among those who believe other candidates deserved the awards. He did not dismiss Cardoso’s argument or question Allende’s ability, instead acknowledging that the Sundowns midfielder may have been deserving of greater recognition. His main disagreement concerns whether Allende should have been selected ahead of Mofokeng and Appollis during the previous season. That balanced assessment reflects the subjective nature of individual awards, where different voters can reach different conclusions based on the same performances. It also allows the debate to focus on the merits of each player rather than reducing the discussion to club rivalry.
The conversation around Allende, Mofokeng and Appollis is likely to continue as the new season develops and more performances provide fresh evidence for supporters and football analysts. Allende will have another opportunity to strengthen his case through his performances for Sundowns, particularly as the club competes for major domestic honours. Mofokeng and Appollis will likewise be expected to maintain their high standards for Pirates and their respective teams. The continued emergence of talented midfielders and attacking players can only strengthen the competitiveness of South African football. Individual awards will remain a source of debate, but performances on the pitch will ultimately provide the strongest evidence.
Tyren Arendse’s response has added another perspective to the discussion surrounding Marcelo Allende’s individual recognition in South African football. While he accepts that the Sundowns midfielder is an outstanding player and may have deserved consideration for the Midfielder of the Season award, he believes Relebohile Mofokeng’s performances during Pirates’ league-winning campaign made him impossible to overlook. Arendse also defended Oswin Appollis as a credible midfield award winner because of his ability to move into central areas during matches. Cardoso’s comments have therefore sparked a debate that goes beyond one player’s recognition and raises questions about how versatility, consistency and positional roles should influence football awards. For Allende, the best response remains what he has continued to provide on the pitch, with his latest performances showing why his name continues to feature prominently in conversations about South Africa’s leading midfielders.
