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Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
EXACTLY 10 years ago, Blessing “Bisto” Moyo was voted the 2014 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s Most Promising Player, after showing a lot of promise at Dynamos, who had bagged their fourth championship in a row.
He was still a fresh-faced 19-year-old, learning the ropes at the country’s biggest football clubs.
But, no one expected that it would take a decade for Moyo to finally make it onto the Soccer Stars calendar.
The 29-year-old Simba Bhora defender is one of the five players from the PSL champions who made it amongst the best eleven when a panel of journalists, club coaches, and captains voted online yesterday.
Walter Musona, Webster Tafa, Isheanesu Mauchi, and Tymon Machope are the other Simba Bhora players who made it onto the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Soccer Stars list.
Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Godknows Murwira and Kingsley Mureremba (both CAPS United), Donovan Bernard (Chicken Inn), and Khama Billiat, who scored 13 goals for Yadah were also selected.
Golden Boot winner, Lynoth Chisepe Chikuhwa was a sure bet and he was duly chosen.
The Highlanders hitman banged 17 goals and is a hot favourite for a top-three position. Simba Bhora skipper, Musona, is heavily tipped to be the 2024 Soccer Star of the Year, which could be his second gong, having won the big one with FC Platinum in 2022.
The Soccer Star of the Year and his runners-up will be announced on December 6.
The Goalkeeper of the Year and the Most Promising Player will also be announced on the same night.
While there has been a fierce debate on the composition of the calendar, the inclusion of Simba Bhora defender, Moyo, was hailed by many.
Moyo played 32 out of 34 games for Simba Bhora, who lost once at their fortress Wadzanai in Shamva.
It was a double blessing for Moyo who was also blessed with a baby boy during the season.
Sasha Makanaka was born on April 16, two days after Simba Bhora beat Dynamos 1-0 at Wadzanai, in what was one of their statement wins of the season.
“I am so grateful for how things came up, especially with the work we put on as a team.
“I am happy for being selected amongst the best 11,” Moyo told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
It has taken Moyo more than a decade to finally make it onto the Soccer Stars calendar, having started his career at DeMbare, as a 17-year-old boy in 2012.
He won three league championships with Dynamos in 2012, 2013, and 2014, before moving to Maritzburg United in South Africa via Harare City.
He won his fourth gold medal with FC Platinum, who made it four in a row in 2022, but Moyo still failed to make it onto the calendar.
He is now on five championship gold medals with three different Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clubs.
“I think at FC Platinum I was a bit mature but injuries pegged me back,” says Moyo.
“I didn’t play many games but at Simba Bhora I was having more game time.
“At Dynamos I was still very young,” he added.
While Moyo is celebrating his first appearance on the calendar, another veteran Murwira has made it for the third time now, having achieved the same feat with Dynamos in 2016 and Ngezi Platinum Stars in 2018.
“I am grateful and it’s such an honour to be recognised amongst the best performers in a league full of top players,” Murwira said.
The 31-year-old had a stellar season for Makepekepe who however, finished ninth on the final log standings.
He was also a member of the national team which qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
TelOne coach, Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa, feels Simba Bhora deserves to have more players on the calendar, although he thinks there were some players who deserved but were overlooked.
“It was good for those who managed to be selected, remember it was a difficult season for many teams,” said Maruwa.
“If you can see players from Simba Bhora, they did well but I think players like (Takunda) Benhura of Ngezi Platinum Stars and (Brian) Banda of FC Platinum were unlucky.
“They could have made it but they will try again next time,” added Maruwa.
Veteran commentator, Charles “CNN” Mabika, was amazed by the omission of players from FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum Stars who finished second and third respectively. “Manica Diamonds were fourth but they didn’t have a player selected.
“Herentals were Harare’s best team but they do not have a single player on the calendar,” a worried Mabika said.
“Even ZPC Kariba, who had the best defensive record in the league also didn’t have anyone making it.”
There were many who felt one of the two ZPC Kariba defenders, Boid Mutukure and Nyasha Gurende, should have made it.
Former national team defender, Dumisani Mpofu, was surprised Simba Bhora defensive midfielder Tichaona Chipunza failed to make it among the best eleven.
“You would feel there were other players who were supposed to be there but were surprisingly omitted,” opined Mpofu.
“We are not saying those who are there do not deserve but players like Chipunza played very well.
“There’s also this young defensive link man from Yadah, Blessed Ndereki, I think he deserved a place.
“His team did not do well but he was outstanding.
“However, whenever there’s voting for the Soccer Stars, there’s bound to be debate,” added the former CAPS United star defender.
Online Reporter