Fifa has hinted at the nomination of Yusuf Maart’s sumptuous strike for the Puskas Award.
The world football governing body was reacting to Maart’s goal for the Kaizer Chiefs in the 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates on Saturday.
“This strike from @KaizerChiefs Yusuf Maart could be one for the #Puskas list,” Fifa tweeted on Tuesday.
Maart sent FNB Stadium full house into a frenzy with his long-range shot that earned Chiefs Soweto bragging rights.
Chiefs won the ball in Pirates’ half before feeding it to Maart, who timed his run to perfection before picking his range.
The clever-footed Maart spotted Pirates keeper Siyabonga Mpontshane off the line.
The Amakhosi star then unleashed an absolute stunner in the 74th minute.
It was so powerful a drive retreating Mpontshane could not deal with it.
MAART’S SHEER BRILLIANCE
The Pirates keeper had kept his side in the game with brilliant stops before conceding. Fifa has since urged fans to share their videos of other brilliant strikes that could be considered for the Puskas accolade.
“Who do you think deserves the award for the most spectacular goal of the year? Use #Puskas to share your contenders!,” Fifa tweeted.
TRACING OSCARINE MASULUKE’S FOOTSTEPS
Maart could follow in the footstep of South African goalkeeper Osarine Masuluke who earned the Puskas Award nomination in the 2016 and 2017 seasons while at Baroka.
The award is named after Hungarian great Ferenc Puskas. The Hungarian star scored an astonishing 84 goals in 85 international matches for the national team.
Puskas also played four matches for Spain, where he thrilled the crowd while playing for Real Madrid in the 1950s.
On Saturday, the Soweto derby attracted 88,000 fans at the 2010 World Cup venue. The win saw Chiefs move up to fifth place on the log table with 21 points from 13 games, seven points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
The defending champions Sundowns continued with their revival when they beat Royal AM 3-0 also on Saturday afternoon.
