Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT is that time of the year again when the cat would have to be let out of the bag.
The identity of the man who has been deemed to have excelled in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League will be unveiled at what promises to be yet another glittering night for the domestic game.
This comes as organisers have also confirmed that all is set for the Soccer Star Awards gala night, a prestigious event pencilled to take place tonight in the capital.
The 11 players, who set the domestic league ablaze with spectacular football will tonight be awarded for their talent and creativity throughout the football season.
This prestigious event will bring together league sponsors, coaches, team captains, club administrators and journalists for an evening which, if tradition is anything to go by has over the decades been one of glitz and glamour.
A panel of club coaches, captains and sports journalists finalised the calendar last week with 11 elite players making the cut in the 18-team league.
The panel also chose the Coach of the Year.
It is at tonight’s gala that the Best Referee and the runners-up will also be revealed.
While the 11 men who made the calendar are already known by now, it is the winners of the major individual accolades, including Soccer Star of the Year, two runners-up, Coach of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, and Most Promising Under-20 player, whose identities have been kept under a tight lid.
This has added both excitement and anxiety ahead of the announcement of the eventual winners.
Not even social media platforms which have a tendency to rely on speculation, can claim to know the identity of the winner, something that Delta Beverages and the PSL have sworn to keep a secret until the awards night.
While mystery surrounds the winner of the Soccer Star award, TelOne’s Washington Navaya will grace the podium to receive his gong for bagging the Golden Boot title.
Navaya led the PSL’s race for goal to finish the year with 17 goals.
He managed to shrug off tight competition from his closest rival, Scottland forward Tymon Machope who appeared determined to close in on the gap until the last day of the season.
In the end Machope only managed 16 goals and made it among the 11 finalists, who will grace the podium tonight.
Malawian expatriate William Thole who is on the books of the 2024 Premiership champions Simba Bhora is the only goalkeeper on the 11-finalists list. While this places him highly as a favourite for the Goalkeeper of the Year accolade, surprises of a different goalminder popping up on the night cannot also be ruled out. Names such as Scottland’s Nelson Chadya, Prince Tafiremutsa from Dynamos, MWOS’ Number One Martin Mapisa and Takudzwa Chikosi of Triangle have also been thrown into the Goalkeeper of The Year debate among pundits and fans.
However, much spotlight will be on the Soccer Star of the Year and the first and second Runners’ Up.
Scottland’s Kevin Moyo, Dynamos skipper Emmanuel Jalai, Jarrison Selemani from FC Platinum, Navaya and Simba Bhora’s Emmanuel Ziocha have had their names featuring prominently in the discussions for favourites for the coveted award.
Interestingly, Jalai is also tipped to be the fans’ favourite for the People’s Choice award, a slot which was opened for the public to vote.
Jalai returns on the Soccer Stars list for the second time, together with Simba Bhora defender Isheanesu Mauchi and Machope.
The trio first featured for the prestigious recognitions last year, where they were amongst the top 11 men in the league.
Soccer Stars
Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Tymon Machope (Scottland), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Abubakar Moffat (MWOS), Kevin Moyo (Scottland), Washington Navaya (TelOne), Jarrison Selemani (FC Platinum), William Thole (Simba Bhora), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Billy Veremu (MWOS), Emmanuel Ziocha (Simba Bhora)
