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IN days gone by the selection of the 11 most outstanding players in the Premiership dominated all sporting topics.
The season ends today with just the FA Cup final outstanding. In the past decade the selection has failed to arouse excitement of the past as the performances by the players have been lackluster.
Every soccer fan would be having his own 11 with the onus of rounding up the wish list vested on the respected football writers. These were men of honour who would have toiled all season following the PSL or Super League action going about their work with due diligence.
Except for the odd year, most times the fans would concur with what the journalists would have come up with. This year’s selection under the expanded panel in which coaches, media and players are involved takes place this Saturday.
Back in the day, so much excitement engulfed the whole country in the run up to the selection. But the ultimate was in having a copy of the calendar to hang in one’s living room. It was so much sought after that the unscrupulous would even attempt to sell the calendars.
One may ask the question: “What has befallen the prized selection?” The processes then were so clean that selectors would literally come up with an 11 that almost constitutes a full team. Perhaps it did not come as a surprise that Tony Kanukayi and his National Breweries marketing colleagues saw value in arranging a match pitting Highlanders and the Soccer Stars of the Year at Barbourfields starting in 1986.
The match itself was a blockbuster with a depleted Bosso adding the late Stanley Ndunduma to its line-up for the inaugural match. Legends Madinda Ndlovu, the late Willard Khumalo and Mercedes Sibanda were among the 11 most outstanding players in the league.
There was great competition in the 12-team Super League at a time mining and industry were at full throttle backing up teams, sponsorships and fans to watch football. For one to be selected the most outstanding goalie, there was Japhet Mparutsa, Mike Mhlanga, Victor Dliwayo, Posani Sibanda, Ranga Mutunga, Lucky Dube, Zebron Magorimbo, Musa Muzanenhamo, John Sibanda, Peter Nkomo and Frank Mkanga all a great crop and national team material.
No one would question Mparutsa’s selection ahead of all the goalkeepers from 1980 to 1990, he just was something else breathing confidence into club and country’s defences.
As if deliberate selectors would also look at wingbacks with the same seriousness as they looked at other players and rarely did you find a duplication where players who play same role ended up gracing the calendar.
You would not have James Takavada, Mercedes Sibanda and Misheck Chidzambwa or Gibson Homela considered in the same year.
Even when it came to left backs selectors would pick one and the whole country would give its nod and agree that Dumisani Nyoni, Melusi Nkiwane, Ephraim Dzimbiri, Eddie Muchongwe and Knight Mathe were superb, but if in that season Oliver Kateya stood head and shoulders over the rest he would have earned his stripes to be among the final 11.
The same went for central defenders where competition was as hot with attention aroused by marking out lethal finishers in the mold of Maronga Nyangela, Homela, Twyman Ncube, Ernest Kamba, Adam Ndlovu, Wonder Chaka, Stanley Mashezha, Percy Mwase, Mark Watson, Peter Nyama and Rahman Gumbo.
For Sunday Chidzambwa, Ephert Lungu, Amos Rendo,David Phiri, Thulani Ncube, James Matola, Francis Shonhayi, Ephraim Chawanda and Alexander Maseko to be among the 11 they would have outshone others.
Attention tended however, to be stolen by the creative players. Whose genius on the wing or middle of the park saw them create goals and eject fans off their seats. The selectors would really have a tough time when selecting for instance wingers into the final list. In an era where there was Boy Ndlovu, Eric Aisam, Madinda Ndlovu, Joseph Machingura, Ndunduma, Jimmy Mbewe, Mike Abrahams, Kakoma Kayonga, David Khumalo, Morgan Phiri, Joseph Zulu who boasts probably the highest appearances on the calendar, there was a thin line between the best and the rest, many losing out for playing for the unfashionable sides from out of Bulawayo and Harare.
To make the grade in the 11 bright stars from midfield in a class where competition came from David Mwanza, Ernest Makosa, Jimmy Phiri, George Ayibu, Obey Sova, Boyce Malunga, Tito Paketh, Elvis Chiweshe, Joel Shambo, Stix Mtizwa, Mpumelelo Dzowa, David Muchineripi, Clayton Munemo, Kenneth Jere, Sherperd Muradzikwa, Derby Makinka, Willard Khumalo and Wonder Phiri was a daunting task.
More often the coach of the team that did extremely well would land the Coach of the Year and the best referee would also be honoured after a meticulous selection process.
Nowadays selectors do not have the luxury of a wide pool of players. But one player certain to be in every sober mind is FC Platinum’s Rodwell Chinyengetere the country’s leading goal scorer who had another stellar season. With talent scarce in the league, one season wonders will continue to grace the calendar and disappear.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter