adminThis year’s selection involved journalists, soccer coaches, officials from the Football Union of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Soccer Referees Association.
Ngoni Bouyed an official with the ZSRA said they were excited that they were part of the selection process.
“The selection went well and if it was football I would not have given a yellow card. It was a good move to include referees in the selection because they are part of the game and they do have an idea who is playing well and who is not,” he said
Coach, Adam Ndlovu also applauded the move saying it was a fair selection because people had the opportunity to share knowledge and experience.
“It is only fair that soccer coaches are involved in the selection process. I am happy that there were a lot of people that were present,” he said.
Ndlovu said even though he would have wanted one of his players on the calendar as the player had done well during the season, he could not complain about the selection process.
“My players will have to work hard now if they want to be included in the top 11,” he said.
This year, eight clubs are represented on the calendar something that has not been possible for more than 10 years.
Clubs that are represented on the calendar are Highlanders, Dynamos, Gunners, Caps United, FC Platinum, Hwange, Black Mambas and Chicken Inn.
Delta marketing executive, Stanley Muchenje said as the sponsors they were excited that the selection process went on well.
“Maturity was reflected in the whole selection process as the results shows that eight teams will be featured on the calendar something that has not been possible for a while,” he said.
Muchenje said they were happy with the response that they received from the different stakeholders who were able to attend.
Unfortunately only eight coaches turned up for the selection with the rest giving excuses.
“This being the first time we are involving everyone we hope that next year all those who were invited will be present,” he said.
Castle Lager PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said they wanted to have a fair selection hence the inclusion of other stakeholders in the sport.
“The response from the stakeholders was fair. We saw the need to incorporate representation from all the stakeholders in the league. We had fair representation to make sure that we came up with a fair selection,” he said.
Ndebele said the presence of the soccer experts helped in the selection.
“We believe that the fact that we have eight teams that are represented by the best 11 players shows that the competition in the league has improved. The league champions and the fourth team that was relegated were decided on goal difference,” he said.
Ndebele said they could adopt this system of selecting the Soccer Star of the Year as it had proved effective.
The Soccer Star of the Year finalists that were selected at the weekend are Cliff Sekete (Gunners), Allan Gahadzikwa (Dynamos), Rahman Kutsanzira (Highlanders), George Magariro (Dynamos), Nkosana Siwela (Hwange), Tafadzwa Dube (FC Platinum), Tapiwa Khumbuyani (Caps United), Donald Ngoma (FC Platinum), Washington Arubi (Dynamos), Abbas Amidu (Black Mambas) and Graham Ncube (Highlanders).
Rodrick Mutuma of Dynamos was not eligible for the Soccer Star finalists as he accumulated six yellow cards during the season.
He will however be presented with the Golden Boot for the 14 goals that he scored.
Herbert Dick topped the list of players with the most yellow cards during the season accumulating 10.
Only two players Chicken Inn’s Frank Mvula and Masvingo United’s Welcome Ndiweni had two red cards each.
The PSL recorded 786 yellow cards in the 30 weeks of action and 43 red cards.
Also selected was the Most Promising Player and the three finalists were Morris Kadzola (Chicken Inn), Denver Mukamba (Dynamos) and Cliff Sekete (Gunners)
Arubi is this year’s Best Goalkeeper after he conceded 13 goals in 28 games beating Tafadzwa Dube who although he conceded 11 played only 19 matches.
Hwange will be given the Fair Play Team award which carries $10 000 prize money.
Online Reporter