Soccer Stars of the Year hopefuls

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
WITH three games left before the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League curtain comes down, debate on who will be the Soccer Stars of the Year is already hotting up.

For many, this year would be difficult to come up with the top 11 as most players had a subdued season. The talk on social media among fans is that there were no exceptional performances this year by local premiership standards, hence calls for the awards to be shelved, REALLY?

However, as tradition the PSL and Delta Beverages will honour those who made the difference in the chase for the title this year. As has been the norm in the past few years, the 2016 calendar is likely to have totally different players from those who were selected in 2014 due to lack of consistency that seems to have become the norm in Zimbabwe’s football players.

However, of course, just like the adage “when the cat is away, the mice come out to play,’’ there were some “useful’’ players this season. Reigning soccer star of the year, Dennis Dauda failed to replicate last year’s performance with ZPC Kariba and is unlikely to make it into the calendar while first runner-up, ZPC goalkeeper, Tendai Hove had to watch from the terraces for the better part of this season after sustaining a shoulder injury. Second runner-up, Limited Chikafa had an indifferent season at How Mine, whom he signed for at the beginning of the year but he ended up moving back to ZPC during the mid-season and has been a pale shadow of himself failing to make the darting runs and being a traditionally “thorn in the flesh” for defenders, his form of last season.

Last year’s golden boot winners, Charles Sibanda and Kuda Musharu, who finished with 12 goals apiece, failed to sparkle this year for their team, How Mine. To put it bluntly both Sibanda and Musharu were unimpressive in front of goal, with the former’s season having come to a premature end due to his shenanigans off the field. He was subsequently de-registered by he gold miners.

Stephen Alimenda and Themba Ndlovu have had a decent season playing crucial roles for Dynamos and Harare City respectively, while former FC Platinum midfielder Thabani Kamusoko moved to Tanzania’ Young African Stars.

Although it will be a close call on who makes it into the calendar this year, there are several players who have been voted as player of the month, with Chicken Inn’s striker, Edmore Chirambadare getting the award twice. The former Tsholotsho FC player had a dream debut season and is in contention for the golden boot having scored 11 goals.

Highlanders’ marksman, Knox Mutizwa started the season as a fringe player at Bosso but blossomed under former coach Bongani Mafu turning himself into a vital cog in Highlanders disastrous campaign and with 12 goals to his name so far, he is likely to make it to the final 11.

Chicken Inn’s Michelle Katsvairo scooped the August player of the month accolade making him a strong candidate for the calendar along with Dynamos’ Roderick Mutuma, the monthly award winner for September.

FC Platinum’s winger Marshall Mudehwe and striker Brian Muzondiwa have had a good showings during the season and are up for consideration along with Dynamos’ dribbling wizard Ronald Chitiyo who was instrumental in the defending champions’ earlier matches although he had been hard done by injury.

Harare City’s William Manondo has been phenomenal in front of goal and has taken on the mantle on several occasions to win games for his side while Caps’ defender Stephen Makatuka, Hwange defender David Boriwondo and FC Platinum’s holding midfielder Gerald Takwara have been consistent performers with the latter maintaining his form despite having started the season at Tsholotsho and only moved to Zvishavane during the mid-season transfer window.

Goalkeepers, Elvis Chipezeze (Chicken Inn), Donovan Bernard (How Mine) and Tatenda Mukuruva of Dynamos have had outstanding performance and the goalkeeper of the year is most likely to emerge from the trio.

Chicken Inn captain and anchorman, Danny Phiri has also had a good season for the Game Cocks leading them to a strong challenge for title and the team remains odds on favourite to land the championship. However, the national team captain has been ruled out of the race by a technicality which states that a player with six or more yellow cards or three red cards is ineligible for selection to the calendar.

The rule has been a major talking point for the past few seasons with some in the football fraternity calling for a relaxation of the rule saying it is not fair as it mainly affected defenders. The battle for the coach of the year will be between FC Platinum’s Norman Mapeza and Chicken Inn’s Joey Antipas and whoever wins the league between the two is certain to walk away with the award.