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Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
FORMER Bantu Rovers midfielder, Bukhosi “Zaku” Sibanda could have been a victim of amnesia on the part of the soccer star selectors as he was omitted from the Premiership’s best eleven despite having had a terrific display during the first half of the season.
Sibanda was the first to score a hat-trick and by the time he left during the mid-season for South Africa’s Ubuntu, he had scored 10 goals which other strikers struggled to reach.
Dynamos’ Christian Epoupa took seven more matches to reach the number and could only score two more than Sibanda despite missing a few games throughout the whole season.
Sports analysts blamed the selectors for only remembering the exploits of those who shine the Premiership race reaches the home stretch. Charles Mabika said last year former Highlanders utility player, Bruce Kangwa was a victim to the same amnesia after making prolific appearances in the first half of the season but his move to Tanzania during the mid-season break saw him being forgotten by the selectors. He said it was a travesty of justice for the promising player as he deserved to be among the country’s best 11 players this year.
“I think if he had stayed longer in the league he would have made a huge difference in terms of the golden boot as I think he would have reach 20 plus goals at the rate at which he was going. However, it seems people tend to forget how someone performed early in the season, particularly those players who would have left, they are simply forgotten. Those who shine in the second half of the season are the ones who seem to be rewarded. I think its human nature to forget past performances but it is cruel for Bukhosi,” he said.
Mabika said with rules making Sibanda eligible for selection it was only amnesia that saw him being overlooked. Sportscaster, Muziwethu Hadebe said for a player who scored the first hat-trick of the season in which only two other players managed that feat it is unfortunate he could not make it to the calendar.
“As the first player to reach double figures in terms of scoring it is unfortunate that he was not selected among the soccer stars and the fact he was once voted player of the month. Not all outstanding players can make it into the calendar however, we should have a system that recognises outstanding players and avoid situations where those who excel and move outside the country are forgotten,” he said.
Hadebe said a player from a relegated team can still be outstanding. SFM football analyst, David Simba said Sibanda strike rate from the first half of the season is a sign of the wonders he could have done had he completed the season.
He said Sibanda’s snub will negatively affect other up and coming players who might feel it is only the old and experienced who are “honoured” for their exploits. Simba said Sibanda could have been ignored from coming from a small club as many players lacked the consistency he showed during his time in the Premiership.
“He was one of the few consistent players in the league during the first half and remember when he left Bosso’s Prince Dube was four goals behind him on the goal scorers chart an indication of how good he was,” he added.
According to the selection rules, a player is eligible for selection if he plays 10 or more games in the season under consideration. A panel made up of journalists, club coaches and captains assembled in Harare on Tuesday to select this year’s 2017 soccer stars.
Online Reporter