Bruce Kangwa
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
IT’S the biggest individual recognition that any player would cherish in his career, being selected as one of the top 11 players in the country.
That process takes place in Harare on Tuesday when the 16 Castle Lager Premiership coaches, their captains and selected journalists from different media houses in the country make their choices.
The season has been long and full of thrills and spills but it all comes together this afternoon with the final round of matches.
In this period a number of players have been outstanding, blowing hot and cold, flattering only to deceive but it is those that endure the currents and come out that stand a chance to be selected on Tuesday. The Soccer Stars of the Year finalists calendar must be earned, it must be deserved. A player must get in there on merit not because he is friends with some journalist out there.
Legends like George Shaya, Moses Chunga, Stanley Ndunduma, Joel Shambo, Mercedes Rambo Sibanda, Willard Khumalo, Peter Ndlovu, Zenzo Moyo, Memory Mucherahowa, Dazy Kapenya, Johannes Ngodzo, Japhet Mparutsa, Shackman Tauro, Sunday and Misheck Chidzambwa just to mention a few from different generations, must not shake their heads in disbelief when the final 11 is announced on Tuesday afternoon.
A number of players gave it their best and it would not be a surprise to see them making the cut with FC Platinum goalkeeper Petros Mhari, so shockingly left out of the national team by those who do the selection, a favourite among many selectors with some superb saves that have kept FC Platinum in the title race right up to the very end.
His colleague and midfield enforcer Winston Mhango has also had a dream season in the middle of the park for the championship contenders and a number of observers are also convinced that it will not be an injustice if he was to take the big one come Friday.
The Moyo twins from FC Platinum — Kelvin and Elvis — had a good season and so have they over the last two years but have somehow found themselves overlooked by the selectors.
Hwange’s Gift Mbweti took the PSL by storm and found himself being called up for national team duty by the national team technical bench, an indicator that they too have been convinced by his performance. He has done all he could to grace the calendar.
Third placed Highlanders, whose title chase ended disastrously at Mandava Stadium last Sunday, have players who shone like beacons. Young Prince Dube has huge chances of getting into that sacred calendar. Dube is also in the running for the Most Promising Under-20 Player of the Year, although he faces stiff competition from Ngezi Platinum’s 18-year-old goalkeeper Nelson Chadya. Also in the running is the trio of hard working winger Rahman Kutsanzira and greatly improved Simon Munawa whose presence in the Bosso engine room would calm the nerves of the supporters while unsettling opponents. Star defender Peter Muduhwa, according to former AmaZulu hardman Herbert Dick, is a certainty on the calendar this season.
Dick also tipped Caps United’s ageless striker Leonard Tsipa and Godknows Murwira of Dynamos. Murwira is probably the only DeMbare player who deserved to don that famous blue and white jersey.
Despite playing for lowly Mutare City who never went above 14th position on the table, Kuda Gurure caught the eye of many, often coming up with crucial goals.
He ruled the local scene a decade ago when he was named the Soccer Star of the Year while turning out for Motor Action and is still going strong. Chicken Inn’s Clemence Matawu is one player who was rarely off form this season, missing games due to other reasons like a slight knock or other commitments. He won admirers even from opposition supporters.
Caps United’ right back Hardlife Zvirekwi also rarely put a foot wrong for Makepekepe so did Bulawayo City’s lanky skipper Xolisani Moyo, said to be on the Africa bound Ngezi Platinum radar.
The Chibuku Super Cup winners’ skipper Liberty Chakoroma was instrumental in the revival of the once relegation favourites and deserves a place among the cream as well as Caps United’s Ronald Pfumbidzayi.
Despite having left on the halfway mark for Azam in Tanzania, former Bosso left footed winger cum striker Bruce Kangwa is also in the running and it won’t be surprising if he is part of the awards night on Friday next week.
Awards Prize list
Footballer of the Year $6 000
1st Runner Up $ 4 000
2nd Runner Up $3 000
Footballers of the Year (8 finalists) $8 000
Top Goal Scorer of the Year $4 000
Goalkeeper of the Year $2 500
Most Promising U-20 Player $ 2 500
Coach of the Year $4 000
Referee of the Year $2 500
1st Runner Up $2 000
2nd Runner Up $1 500
Most Disciplined Team $10 000