How Mudadi lost Soccer Star crown

Lawrence Moyo-Head Zimpapers Sports

DYNAMOS midfielder Donald Mudadi lost the 2023 Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year award by just three votes in a process where his club’s representative coach Genesis Mangombe and captain Frank Makarati abstained, costing him 10 votes. 

Ngezi Platinum captain Qadr Amini was crowned Soccer Star of the Year and statistics from the voting process, which were published by the Premier Soccer League yesterday, revealed that it was a two-horse race for the big prize. 

Amini polled 126 votes while Mudadi had 123 with second runner-up, Obriel Chirinda a distant third with 79 votes. 

However, an analysis of those who did not vote shows that the Dynamos family abandoned their star midfielder at the crucial stage as the two representatives on the voting panel, Mangombe and Makarati, did not vote. 

The two would have guaranteed Mudadi 10 votes as first place on the voting card carried five votes, second place three points and third place one vote. 

They were two of 21 coaches, captains and journalists who abstained from the vote. The others who did not vote are CAPS United’s Lloyd Chitembwe and Tonderai Mateyaunga, Jameson Mukombwe, Munyaradzi Nyenye-Diro, Nigel Mupanduki, Prince Mutasa, Johanisi Nhuma, Kumbirai Mutiwekuziwa, Maxwell Takaendesa and Nesbert Saruchera (who was supposed to be represented by new Cranborne Bullets coach Sammy Mavhenyengwa). 

Also missing out were coaches Norman Mapeza, Prince Matore, Saul Chaminuka and Thulani Sibanda together with reporters Bande Ray, Mhlanga Ellina, Nikisi Collen, Obert Siamilandu and Sibanda Zwelikhethabantu. 

Also in a similar situation was Ngezi Platinum goalkeeper Nelson Chadya who lost out to Ariel Sibanda by two votes with his coach Takesure Chiragwi among those that did not vote. 

Just like the main prize, it was a two-horse race with Sibanda getting 26 votes and Chadya 24 while the third best, Donovan Bernard had six votes. 

However, unlike the Soccer Star of the Year top prize, the goalkeeper of the year award was on a one-man-one-vote basis meaning Chiragwi’s vote alone would not have tilted the race in Chadya’s favour. 

Apart from Chiragwi, there were 22 others who abstained from the vote.