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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
MBARE Musika bus rank is a hive of activity as people shove and jostle to catch their ride. Some are unfortunate as they lose their belongings, including money to pick-pockets who are taking advantage of the confusion.
Transport operators are making a killing as they triple their fares as desperate travellers want to make it to their rural homes no matter the cost. This is always the case at Mbare Musika and other ranks across the country at this time of the year.
People from all walks of life want to make Christmas as memorable as they can by spending it with their kith and kin back in the village. Those who cannot make it to the villages still get to merry-make in towns and cities as they celebrate the biggest day on the Christian calendar.
But for the 2023 Soccer Star of the Year Qadr Amini and his greater family, Christmas is just an ordinary day.
The Ngezi Platinum Stars captain, his two wives and six children will, unlike others, not wear any fancy clothes nor feast on out of the ordinary meals today. Instead they will just wake up and do what they always do. “I am Muslim and we don’t attach much importance on Christmas Day,” Amini said.
“We don’t recognise Christmas and this is just an ordinary day. For us there is no difference between 1, 2, 3 or 25 December. So we don’t really get to do anything celebratory”.
While the king of the local game for the 2023 season will be relaxing with his family in Mbare today doing nothing to honour the day due to his religion, the 10 other soccer stars who made it to the calendar will be celebrating differently.
By the way the soccer stars are oiled after they received their money for being on the calendar last week.
Soccer Star first runner-up Donald Mudadi will be in Highfield, Harare with his family while second runner-up Obriel Chirinda will be in Bulawayo celebrating the day with close family members and friends.
Goalkeeper of the Year Ariel Sibanda of Highlanders has since travelled to his rural home in Silobela.
“I always make sure that Christmas is spent in the village. I get to mix with my childhood friends and also get to be together with most of my extended family members,” said Sibanda.
“I get to freshen up for these few days before I return to Bulawayo for work. I have always spent Christmas in the village for as long as I can remember”.
Golden Boot winner Takunda Benhura, who netted 13 times for champions Ngezi Platinum Stars is also back to his village in Mhondoro for the holidays.
Benhura will spend Christmas Day with his maternal grandmother, who raised him in the village.
“Mhondoro occupies a very special place in my heart. I cannot imagine a Christmas day outside its environs. This is the area that made me and I am on my way there from Kadoma right now (on Saturday). I will be celebrating the day with my grandmother and my fellow villagers,” said Benhura.
For Chicken Inn speedster Michael Charamba, the day will be opened by a church service in Kwekwe before he gets to celebrate with his family in the Midlands town.
Manica Diamonds’ Fortune Binzi will be in Chikanga, Mutare with his family while Herentals’ Tino Benza who also won the Fans Choice Award is in Europe.
Ngezi Platinum Stars goalkeeper Nelson Chadya will be celebrating at his newly-built house in Gweru while Dynamos’ Tanaka Shandirwa said he will be with his family in Highfield, Harare.
Andrew Mbeba of Highlanders will be in Barbourfields, Bulawayo.
“I will be at home in Barbourfields with my uncle and close family members. It’s time to spend with my family and friends. We will be chilling at home, taking some good food,” said Mbeba.
Online Reporter