Online Reporter
Sports Reporter
ON our back page yesterday, we led with the story in which we questioned whether Emmanuel Jalai was now the favourite to win the Soccer Star of the Year award.
The back page went viral on many social media platforms and triggered a lot of debate.
It was the dominant story in discussions related to domestic football yesterday.
Here are some of the views of our readers:
In the history of Zimbabwean soccer, Soccer Stars usually came from top teams, teams that did well – that’s an undisputed fact. However, there are some rare cases when Soccer Stars came from relegation threatened teams. Those players were not just good, they were exceptional – the likes of Maxwell Dube and Masimba Dinyero. Jalai has been playing well this season both for national team and Club but is nowhere near the calibre of prime Masimba Dinyero. So to win the award while Dynamos are 16th on the table, though he should mastermind an escape from relegation for his team, if he does that he may be considered. Other than that, he may just grace the calendar. Anything beyond that will just be wishful thinking from Dynamos supporters. – Serapa Sa Tswelopele
*****
Kodwa bantu beDeMbare you are fighting relegation and at the same time you see a PSL Player of the Season in your team, ayi lidakiwe kkkkk. – Khumbulani Moyo
*****
I’m not sure kuti ma Awards anopihwa mangani, but chandikungoedza kutaura ndechekuti Emmanuel Jalai anofanira kungopihwa ma awards acho ese ekubhora because he is everything zvamungafunge. – Vanessa Vee Chafesukar
*****
We can’t give Jalai the biggest award in local top-flight football simply because DeMbare has fought relegation all season, let’s try to be professional guys. Machope will definitely take it considering his decisive goals that will obviously win Scottland the league. – Tristan
*****
In all fairness Jalai deserves it as he has been a shining star for the relegation fighting DeMbare. He’s also managed to cement his place in a foreign-based packed national team. I still remember yesteryear the likes of Ephraim Dzimbiri & James Takavada won it even though they were from the less glamorous club like Ziscosteel. But what propelled them to glory was the shifts they were putting including in the national team. Manwere out. – Gibson Manwere
*****
Goal of the season? Did you watch Scottland first goal at BF? What about FC Platinum’s long range goals? Jalai with his one goal to think he deserves to be Soccer star of the Year is out this world. Let us be serious, we have Kevin Moyo, Navaya and Ziocha these are top three in Zimbabwe. – Silomuz Nxumalo
*****
Asi munobvei chaiko, Jalai akaitwa Soccer Star of Year, ko toti azotora muchaita seyi ne good renyu? Tendai zvinoitwa nemwana uyu, agona zvisina favour, again on the national team side akachibata chimuti kuti dzviiii. – Amos Tsamwayi
*****
If Dynamos go on to survive relegation definitely Jalai would deserve that award because we would owe that survival to him. He is among the few local players who have secured a spot among the first 11 in the Warriors line-up. – Mugove Mukwenje
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Ungaita Soccer Star munhu playing for a team which fought relegation from week one till week 34 aaah, that’s mockery to football, we have so many other players who are doing good are on the verge of lifting the title on their club’s debut season. – Liberty Chinyota
*****
Jalai is a good example of a professional player, very committed, no theatrics, no complaints with referees, very focused, this guy a perfect candidate for soccer star of the Year. – Mdara Benzema
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These people badakiwe, Jalai can make it into the season’s Best 11 not Soccer Star of the Year, there are many boxes that he did not tick that others have ticked. The problem is with those that will vote, like always the voting will be biased. – Lawrence Maphosa
*****
I think Jalai is being wasted as a defender. He should be drifted to the midfield. PaNakamba apo. – Muchabaya Mareanadzo
