Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE 2025 soccer star of the year will be crowned in Harare today (Friday) with hitmen, Washington Navaya and Tymon Machope, as well as the impressive Emmanuel Jalai, among the favourites to land the coveted award.
A panel of sports journalists, club captains, and coaches converged virtually last Wednesday morning to select the best 11 players of the 2025 season.
The 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League soccer stars of the year were chosen, with the league’s top three clubs once again shaping the final shortlist.
Manica Diamonds, Triangle United, GreenFuel, and Bikita Minerals – four of the 2025 Premier Soccer League clubs with an Eastern Region connection – have none of their players in the list after a mediocre season in which they fought relegation on the last day of the season, resulting in Manica Diamonds and Triangle United surviving, while Bikita Minerals and GreenFuel FC got relegated.
Champions, Scottland, runners-up, MWOS, and third-placed Simba Bhora have collectively provided seven of the 11 players selected for the prestigious award.Scottland have two representatives – defender, Kelvin Moyo, who is widely tipped to be crowned soccer star of the year when the votes are announced at today’s gala, and powerful striker, Tymon Machope, who earns his place for the second successive season after another consistent campaign.
Runners-up, MWOS have contributed forward, Billy Veremu and midfielder, Abubakar Moffat, who made a strong impression after joining the club mid-season from Spain.
Last year’s champions, Simba Bhora, who finished third this year, boast the most players on the calendar.
Goalkeeper, William Thole, young defender, Isheanesu Mauchi, returning for a second year, and the impressive Emmanuel Ziocha are all in contention, with Ziocha tipped to influence the final top three standings.
Highlanders captain, Andrew Mbeba has made the list, as has his Dynamos counterpart, Emmanuel Jalai.
PSL top goal-scorer Washington Navaya, as expected, features among the elite 11 and will be eager to see where he finishes when the top three are announced.
FC Platinum’s attacking talent, Jarrison Selemani, is also included after a stellar season in Zvishavane.
However, players such as Manica Diamonds’ Charles Teguru, Tawanda Macheke, of TelOne, William Nyasulu, of FC Platinum, and Triangle’s Munashe Bamara will be disappointed to miss out despite strong individual performances throughout the season.
The top three, along with coach of the year and rookie of the year, will be announced next month at the end-of-season awards ceremony.
