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Raymond Jaravaza
THE Zifa Southern Region will this weekend hold its Soccer Stars of the Year awards ceremony, sponsored by Liquor Hub Wholesalers — to cap the 2018 season that was won by Hwange FC.
The Soccer Stars of the Year ceremony rewards 11 outstanding players for the just ended season.
Hwange FC have been promoted to the Premier Soccer League next year.
“The awards had initially been set for 2 December but the sponsors asked us to move the date to this Sunday (16 December) and everything is now in place for yet another successful event to crown this year’s outstanding players,” league administrator Augustine Ndlovu said.
The Soccer Star of the Year will walk away with $300, with the second and third best players getting $200 and $150 respectively.
The Golden Boot winner and Coach of the Year will each receive $200, while the rest of the soccer stars will get $50 each.
The Golden Boot award is going to Hwange striker Gilbert Zulu, the 35-year-old veteran who defied age by reaching the 20-goal mark in a single season in as many years.
First Division strikers have in the past failed to reach the 20-goal mark prompting local security company — Nokel Security — to dangle an extra award to the player that bangs in more than 20 goals.
For a player who has reached the twilight of his career, scoring 21 goals for Zulu seemed like wishful thinking at the beginning of the season.
But due to his work ethic and down to earth personality, it did not come as a surprise for Hwange coach Nation Dube.
“Gilbert has played in the Premiership before and has been an essential part of the team for well over 10 years so he understands the pressure that comes with carrying the team on his shoulders.
“This season he played with some young players around him, led from the front and scored goals when it mattered the most and that to me is what an experienced player must do,” said Dube.
derick.khumalo