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Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT had to be him. And it is him.
Walter Musona has scripted a difficult-to-emulate unique tale of his own after winning the 2024 Soccer Star of the Year Award.
That has put the Simba Bhora captain into a two-man exclusive league as he is the second player to win the coveted piece twice with different teams having also attained the feat in 2022 when he was still at FC Platinum.
The late Stanley “Sinyo” Ndunduma had his moment with CAPS United and Black Rhinos.
But what makes this year’s prize more adorable is perhaps the tightness of the race from which he pulled through.
He never believed his ears when Khama Billiat’s name was called up to take the second runner-up slot.
He should have been more shocked when Golden Boot winner Lynoth Chikuhwa of Highlanders was summoned to the podium as the second-best footballer for the just ended season.
The two were his fiercest competitors.
And for very good reasons.
But with his Simba Bhora teammate Tymon Machope, touted as the dark horse in the contest, Musona was never going to prematurely beat his chest.
He had to wait. The minute or so wait should have seemed like eternity for the skilful forward.
It had to be him or Machope.
No one could have raised eyebrows had it been Machope’s name booming the Public Address System.
The two helped Simba Bhora win the league title with almost identical contributions.
They were each involved in 23 direct goals for the Shamva team.
After all Machope could have drawn public appeal due to his seismic and surreal rise to glory.
Zimbabweans love fairytales.
And it could have been the soundtrack to grow the noise when it comes to scouts’ need to cast their net wide when sniffing for talent.
Machope is a humble farm boy who has defied the odds to phenomenally crawl his way to the top.
He was hardly known when he was hopping from one team to another in the Eastern Region Soccer League.
And the journalists would be for given for having started to coin out those juicy headlines as they anticipated his name to be called out for the big one.
But his competitor was Walter!
The boy has been the best player on the domestic front for the past three years.
Matches involving him have never lacked the aesthetics and cosmetics.
He knows how to play it simple. He knows how to beautify the game. He knows how to find his way in closed spaces.
He knows how to win matches even without the ball on his feet. He has shown that set-plays can win teams titles. He is that ultimate player.
He is the man that Simba Bhora missed last season when they almost got relegated.
And when he arrived in Shamva, everything changed.
He brought the belief and the balance.
So often, he conjured up magic to pull out Simba Bhora from their mess which they fell into, so frequently.
He brought that X-factor and he thoroughly deserved the gong.
“I don’t know what to say. I am extremely happy to have won this accolade once again, for the second time in three years and with different teams,” he calmly said.
“I feel honoured and I feel lucky. The competition was there and I know it could have gone any direction.
“It feels great to walk the podium in a league with so many good players like Khama Billiat, Machope and Lynoth Chikuhwa.”
The latter was heavily tipped to win it after playing huge roles for Bosso where he scored 17 goals to help the Bulawayo giants pin sixth place on the table.
Billiat had the quality and personality to win it too after scoring 13 goals and providing as many assists for minnows Yadah.
But both never matched Musona’s prowess both on the pitch and on the ballot.
With 20 clean sheets behind his strong hands, Chicken Inn’s Donovan Bernard won the Goalkeeper of the Year prize while, as expected, Simba Bhora coach Tonderai Ndiraya was voted the Coach of the Year.
Convener of Selectors, Lawrence Moyo, who is also the Head Zimpapers Sports Hub hailed the selection panel for their commitment on voting day last week.
“I think it was by far the most efficient process in recent years,” said Moyo.
“The process went through in record time. Credit goes to the voters themselves that is the journalists, coaches as well the captains together with the Delta Beverages’ IT and Audit teams on duty.”
Soccer Stars Soccer Star of the Year: Walter Musona
1st Runner-Up: Lynoth Chikuhwa
2nd Runner-Up: Khama Billiat
Goalkeeper of the Year: Donovan Bernard
Coach of the Year: Tonderai Ndiraya
Most Disciplined team: FC Platinum
Referee of the Year: Brighton Chimene
Most Promising Player: Allan Chapinduka (TelOne)
Fans’ Choice: Khama Billiat
Soccer Star finalists
Emmanuel Jalai, Godknows Murwira, Kingsley Mureremba, Isheanesu Mauchi, Webster Tafa, Blessing Moyo, Tymon Machope, Donovan Bernard
Online Reporter