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IT looks like it’s going to be a tough call when journalists, coaches and club captains convene to select this year’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Soccer Stars of the Year. Organisers have set November 30 as the day when the selection panel will gather to choose the 11 players who excelled this year. The Soccer Star of the Year will be crowned at a banquet to be held in Harare on December 4.
But following a mediocre season in which there were no outstanding performers who illuminated the scene, the selectors will need to scratch their heads to produce the final list. It just has been a difficult year for local footballers as shown by the troubles journalists had in selecting the candidates for the monthly player awards.
The selectors struggled to come up with names and have somehow restricted themselves to choosing the strikers, presumably on the basis that they were scoring for their teams, at least.
Chicken Inn striker Edmore Chirambadare was the best player for the two opening months in April and May while Highlanders forward Knox Mtizwa was the best player for the combined month of June and July.
FC Platinum striker Mitchell Katsvairo took the monthly award for August while Dynamos’ Roderick Mutuma won the award for September. The winner for combined October and November will be selected at the end of this month. ZPC Kariba’s Dennis Dauda was the winner of the coveted award last year, but the defender is not likely to make it among the 11 this year following a below par season with the electricity men.
Runners up Limited Chikafa and goalkeeper Tendai Hove, who were all teammates at ZPC Kariba, have also failed to repeat the kind of form that won them admiration last season. While it appears a tough call, log leaders Chicken Inn and FC Platinum are expected to produce candidates for the top honours.
The players, however, have not performed consistently during the season. There were also some noteworthy individual performances at Harare City and Triangle. With three games remaining in the season, it looks the Golden Boot award will be tightly contested.
Highlanders striker Mutizwa is the leading goal scorer with 12 goals while Chirambadare has 11. ZPC Kariba midfielder Raphael Manuvire and Chapungu striker Tinei Chitora have both contributed nine goals and the FC Platinum duo of Brian Muzondiwa and Obrey Chirwa are tied on eight goals.
Online Reporter