Whose star will shine on Saturday?

Sports Reporter
A PANEL of experts comprising sports journalists, Premiership coaches and referees’ representatives will on Saturday meet in Harare to select the country’s top 11 soccer stars who were a cut above the rest during the 2013 season.
Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said the stage is set for the selection process.
“All relevant stakeholders that are involved in the process have been notified. As the PSL our duty is to make sure that the club’s coaches attend the process and we have communicated with our affiliates. For media representatives, you may get in touch with the consultant Major Tikiwa, he is the one handling that,” said Ndebele.

Tikiwa is from Multimedia, a media consultancy for Delta Beverages – the sponsors of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Repeated efforts to get the list of media personnel shortlisted for the selection process were fruitless as Tikiwa’s mobile phone went unanswered.

There are fears that since there are important fixtures at the weekend, some of the coaches might forgo the selection process but Ndebele was confident that there would be club representatives.

Some of the PSL coaches involved in tricky fixtures that have a bearing on the championship and relegation include Hwange’s Nation Dube who will be at home to relegated Motor Action, Luke Masomere (Shabanie Mine), Gishon Ntini whose match is in Triangle, the championship chasing trio of Bigboy Mawiwi, Callisto Pasuwa and Bekithemba Ndlovu who is standing in for Kelvin Kaindu.

The panel will on Saturday also vote for the Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year who will only be made public on the day of the banquet where the Soccer Star of the Year and his runners-up as well as the Goalkeeper of the Year will be unveiled.
On selection rules, Ndebele said they would be spelt out to the panel on Saturday.

From past experience, any player who took part in 10 games or more is eligible for selection while those who accumulated six yellow cards or two red cards during the course of the season are ruled out.

Players hauled before a PSL Disciplinary Committee and found guilty of any offence will also not be considered.
Players likely to be considered per club

Caps United
The former Cup Kings’ Hardlife Zvirekwi and Dominic Chungwa had a fine season.

Chicken Inn
Kudakwashe Mahachi, the league’s top goalscorer Tendai Ndoro, skipper Felix Chindungwe and midfielder Danny Phiri all had a good season at the Gamecocks and it will not be surprising if they grace the calendar.

Dynamos
Without doubt, star midfielder Devon Chafa would have easily made it to the calendar or even into the top three but his doping case put paid to that. Defender Partson Jaure, even if not punished by the disciplinary committee, might find it hard to be selected as the whole world saw his moment of madness as he tried to assault referee Thabani Bhamala in their epic clash against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium. Skipper Tawanda Muparati is almost certain to be included among the country’s best players. Left back Ocean Mushure also played well but has accumulated six yellow cards. George Chigova has made the difference for DeMbare making some stunning saves to keep them in contention for their third consecutive league title.

FC Platinum
Former Soccer Star of the Year Charles Sibanda might return to the calendar while Thabani Kamusoko also had a decent season.

Harare City
The season’s surprise package might provide the Coach of the Year with Nathan Ziwini, Osborse Mukuradare and Silas Songani being among some of their players who had a great season. James Jam also commanded his midfield well for the championship favourites.

Highlanders
Goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya has been crucial in their league and cup double quest as well as ageing skipper Innocent Mapuranga and his defence partner Dumisani Ndlovu. Mthulisi Maphosa and Milton Ncube are wild cards too while exciting left back Bruce Kangwa is an automatic exclusion after picking up six yellow cards.

How Mine
The 2013 Mbada Diamonds Cup finalists are likely to have veteran midfielder Menard Mupera who has had a good season together with veteran defender Hebert Dick.

Hwange
The coal miners started off badly and are still relegation candidates but their steady rise of late has been due to a compact defence that has David Boriwondo, national team player Erick Chipeta and skipper Gerald Ndlovu.

Monomotapa
The 2009 Premiership champions, whose season started off badly and continued to deteriorate, will probably have Ronald Chitiyo but he was a pale shadow of what he was last season maybe due to challenges that the club faced.

Triangle
Pasca Manhanga, formerly of Tsholotsho Pirates and Misheck Mburayi had a good season.

Tripple B
The relegated side might still have reason to be in Harare during the banquet for Timire Mamvura’s crowning for a good season. His undoing though might be that some panellists might cast their eyes on big teams which will be rather unfair.