adminNO major modifications are expected for the 2014 Castle Lager Soccer Stars of the Year selection process to be carried out this month.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele pointed out that as far as he was concerned, the changes if any would be just administrative.
“The PSL is currently in consultation with its main sponsor, Delta Beverages, and other stakeholders on the modalities of the selection process of the 2014 soccer stars. It is suffice to say the panel of selectors will remain unchanged. The league will be issuing a statement in due course,’’ said Ndebele.
Speculation has been rife that this year’s procedure would be done in line with the Fifa Ballon d’Or which is carried out by an electronic voting system. That kind of process presents challenges in that those without access to the internet will not be able to cast their ballot. Clubs like Dynamos have been fined during the course of this season by the PSL for not returning the monthly awards ballot papers.
With no changes anticipated, 30 sports journalists drawn from media houses across the country, the 16 club coaches, their captains and two representatives of the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe will converge on Harare during the last weekend of the matches to select the 11 outstanding players, the soccer star of the year, two runners-up, best Under-20 player, best coach, most outstanding goalkeeper. The referee of the year is chosen based on the match commissioners’ reports.
The accolades for the exceptional players and official would be handed over at a ceremony most likely to be held in Harare next month.
Some of the players highly likely to grace this year’s calendar if they are not disqualified by the selection criteria are the Highlanders duo of 2010 Soccer Star of the Year Charles Sibanda, 2012 finalist Felix Chindungwe, Tendai Hove, Tawanda Munyanduri, Pride Tafirenyika, Limited Chikafa all of ZPC Kariba, the Dynamos trio of Steven Alimenda, Blessing Moyo, Themba Ndlovu, Kudakwashe Musharu of How Mine, Tendai Samanja of Caps United and seasoned midfielder Clemence Matawu of Chicken Inn who was the best player in Zimbabwe in 2006.
Caps United utility player Hardlife Zvirekwi, part of the 11 players deemed to have stood out last season, is already out of contention after he was fined by the PSL when he was found guilty of improper behaviour in his club’s match against Buffaloes in April which saw him being fined.
Online Reporter