Is George the best? Where do Bruce, Peter and Chunga stand?

Fungai Muderere
FOOTBALL reality has it that immortality will only be sealed by how footballers perform in their national team colours a�� that is where greatness is secured.

It is a stage where men turn themselves into supermen because nothing beats the honour of representing your country and that is reportedly the reason why those who do well in that regard are deemedA� our greatest heroes.

Long before Moses Chunga, Peter Ndlovu and Bruce Grobbelaar came along, and changed themselves into the vital cogs of Zimbabwean football in the 1980s and 1990s, there was one George a�?Masterminda�? Shaya, a diminutive figure who reportedly possessed golden feet that stunned many after producing something from the top drawer.

Ahead of Zimbabwe Football Associationa��s inaugural awards that will honour the man who remains a reference point, when it comes to brilliance through a Peoplea�?s Choice Award on 11 November in Harare, the question still remains, Who is Zimbabwea��s greatest footballer of all time?

The four legendary players, Shaya, Ndlovu, Chunga and Grobbelaar were shortlisted for the award and yesteryear player David George who was privileged to see the quartet in action reckoned:

a�?Ita��s a tricky one. Besides George Shaya all the other three former players managed to play overseas. But if we are going to consider personal achievements, my vote will go to Bruce Grobbelaar. He won the FA Cup and the Champions League with a big club like Liverpool. Those were not mean achievements and he also did well for the country.a�?

David was crowned Zimbabwea��s Soccer Star of the Year in 1978 and he played alongside the great Shaya at Dynamos.

Asked on who he was tipping for the Peoplea��s Choice Award, veteran football commentator Charles Mabika was tight lipped.

a�?The four guys just deserve the award. Ita��s unfortunate I tend to influence public opinion. I will open up on who I voted for after the awards. I will also give reasons,a�? said Mabika.

Agnes, who got married to ShayaA� when he was honoured with his fifth and final Soccer Star of the Year award in 1977 a�� and his third in succession a��naturally believes her better half deserves the accolade.

a�?No one has scooped the Soccer Star of the Year for a record five times just like my husband. He also did well for the country before the likes of Peter Ndlovu and Bruce Grobbelaar came into the picture,a�? she said passing her mobile phone to her legendary husband.

Shaya did not mince his words.

a�?While ita��s a tricky one, I come out first. Peter Ndlovu comes out as my second best,a�? he said.

Here are their profiles:

George a�?Masterminda�? Shaya