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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
TAIMON Mvula should be cursing fate.
The Dynamos goalkeeper spent most part of the season leading the race for the Goalkeeper of the Year.
He has also been a front-runner for the Soccer Star of the Year accolade.
But a nasty shoulder injury and some damaging allegations of match-fixing have left him in a fix.
He has been out, first recovering from the injury and now being frozen out over the match-fixing accusations.
And two goalkeepers, Nelson Chadya of Ngezi Platinum Stars as well as Chicken Inn’s Donovan Bernard, have since equalled Mvula’s record of 16 clean sheets.
Bernard played a key role when keeping out Herentals in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League goalless draw on Friday.
He was good value for the clean sheet with two point-blank saves denying Davison Marowa and Tino Benza midway through the first half.
He has kept goal for the Gamecocks who are fighting for second place in 27 games.
He missed four matches in August when he was attempting to join South African side Tshakuma Tsha Madzivandila.
“The most disappointing thing for me, I think missing out on the ultimate team prize. We wanted to win the championship but along the way, we suffered a lot of setbacks.
“We should have been talking of a different story right now,” said Bernard.
“The season has been so competitive and we faltered I think at the critical stage of the race.
“But we can’t always complain. At the end of the day, I think FC Platinum deserved it, they were really competitive and consistent.
“Individually, I think I managed to do well keeping out 16 clean sheets.
“I just hope that I keep out three more to get to 19. The competition has been stiff. You look at Chadya (Nelson), Taimon (Mvula) and I think also Herentals goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi, all of them have done well.
“It will be a huge honour to win the golden glove in a league with these sharp goalkeepers.”
Bernard will have to do well and keep out more clean sheets in Chicken Inn’s last three matches against CAPS United, Yadah and Triangle.
Chadya, on the other hand, has been the unsung hero for Ngezi Platinum Stars.
The team has turned a new leaf under caretaker gaffer Takesure Chiragwi.
The former Shabanie Mine coach has masterminded a huge turn around at the Mhondoro outfit since he took over from Benjani Mwaruwaru who was axed in July.
Chadya has been the pillar both during Mwaruwari’s tenure and now.
The 24-year-old clipped his 16th clean sheet on Saturday against Black Rhinos at Baobab in a match he notched heroic saves as well.
He was literally the difference between the draw and a possible loss in that goalless draw.
“I am humbled to have hit the 16 clean-sheet mark.
“That means I have joined my seniors Mvula and Donovan. It’s a great place to be.
“I just hope to add more of those clean sheets as we go. Ultimately, Ngezi Platinum should be the beneficiaries. I should play a part in our quest to finish the season in the top-four,” said Chadya.
“I hope to keep more clean sheets and I hope that will help my team finish in the top four.
“I will try, of course, with the help of my teammates who make sure there is minimal pressure on our side, to keep more clean sheets.”
The agile goalie has a chance to add to his clean sheets tally as his team will wrap the league proceedings with dates against relegated Whawha, Tenax and Manica Diamonds.
It’s not a given Mvula will reclaim a place in the Dynamos line-up.
His former deputies Prince Tafiremutsa and Frank Kuchineyi have been alternating the position in DeMbare’s last four games.
Mvula was injured in the quarter-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup against FC Platinum.
But that wasn’t before allegations of match-fixing surfaced and his name was also mentioned.
He will have to fight hard, not only in the field of play to clear his name.
Dynamos will face Highlanders, Herentals and CAPS United in their last three matches.
Online Reporter