Five vie for FUZ PSL Player of the Month award

Innocent Kurira

THE Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (Fuz) has shortlisted five Castle Lager Premier Soccer League players who they believe have excelled during matches played in April.

Highlanders goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, Hwange striker Brighton Makopa, Fortune Binzi from Manica Diamonds, Dynamos’ defensive midfielder Tanaka Shandirwa and Bulawayo Chiefs’ attacking midfielder Mthokozisi Msebe are all vying for the first award of the season bankrolled by FUZ.

The players’ union introduced the monthly awards last year in a bid to “promote and safeguard the welfare” of footballers by letting active athletes in the topflight select their best player.

Sibanda makes a claim on the list as he has only conceded once in the seven games Highlanders has played this season. He was only breached in Bosso’s 2-1 victory over defending champions FC Platinum.

Already, Msebe was named player of the month for April at his Amakhosi Amahle outfit having scored two goals and coming up with two assists.

The 23-year-old former Zim Leopards attacking midfielder who is also comfortable playing as a winger, scored his first goal when he struck a last-minute equaliser to snatch a point at the jaws of defeat against Chicken Inn in April. The match ended 2-2.

In the same month, Msebe was also on target as Bulawayo Chiefs stunned Dynamos 3-2 at the National Sports Stadium before coming up with two assists for goals scored by veteran midfielder Danny “Deco” Phiri.

He is the only player at Bulawayo Chiefs who has started and completed all of his team’s seven games without being taken off.

Manica Diamonds’ forward Binzi became the first player in the league to score a hattrick when his side beat Black Rhinos 4-0 at Gibbo Stadium on April 29.

The 24-year-old forward is having a brilliant start of the season at Manica Diamonds leading the league’s top goal scorers’ chart with six goals. His goal scoring instincts makes him a favourite to win the FUZ April award.

Hwange’s 23-year-old striker Makopa was shortlisted for the award after banging four goals for the Premiership returnees.

Shandirwa has been receiving rave reviews at Dynamos, reportedly putting man-of-the-match performances with each passing game. Nicknamed Kante, the 23-year-old defensive midfielder became an instant darling at DeMbare since joining the Harare giants from Yadah at the beginning of the season.

The winner of the April award will be announced in due course.

Meanwhile, league action will continue this coming weekend with the toast of the fixtures being the Platinum derby pitting Ngezi and FC Platinum at Baobab on Sunday.

Under-pressure Simba Bhora travel to Bulawayo to face Highlanders this weekend before playing host to Bulawayo Chiefs next week.

Harare giants Caps United are at home to Hwange while Dynamos dates Herentals College.

Castle Lager Premier Soccer League

Matchday 9 Fixtures

Tomorrow: Cranborne Bullets v Greenfuel (National Sports Stadium)

Saturday: Herentals College v Dynamos (National Sports Stadium), Bulawayo Chiefs v Sheasham (Luveve), Manica Diamonds v Chicken Inn (Gibbo)

Sunday: Highlanders v Simba Bhora (Barbourfields), Caps United v Hwange (National Sports Stadium), Triangle United v Yadah (Gibbo), Ngezi Platinum Stars v FC Platinum (Baobab)

Monday: ZPC Kariba v Black Rhinos (National Sports Stadium) — @innocentskizoe