Wenslus Murape
Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
SIMBA Bhora skipper Walter Musona and Ngezi Platinum goalkeeper Nelson Chadya could script intriguing personal tales when a panel of selectors pick the 2024 Soccer Stars of the Year on Wednesday.
The curtain came down on the season this weekend with Simba Bhora defying the odds to win the title in only their second year in the top-flight league.
It’s now time for a panel of selected journalists and club captains as well as their coaches to vote for the best individuals who illuminated the scene throughout the season.
If Musona wins the Soccer Star of the Year award he will become the first player to win it twice with two different teams.
The late George “Mastermind” Shaya remains the only player in history to win the prize five times.
Musona won the Soccer Star of the Year prize in 2022 when he helped FC Platinum win their fourth straight league title.
Musona scored 10 goals and dished out 13 assists.
“I was never angling for individual glory as all I was working for was to see Simba Bhora winning the league title.
“I am happy we managed to clinch it and everyone at the club is happy.
“Then I am realising it just now that I was directly involved in 23 goals for the club.
“I think it has been the most outstanding season for me. I never thought we would win it (the league).
“But we set out to achieve and we worked tirelessly and all credit goes to every individual at the club for putting in the requisite effort.
“If I end up winning the Soccer Star award, well, that will be something else. I think there are a lot of players who really stood out not just at my team but elsewhere.”
Chadya could become the first player to win the Goalkeeper of the Year prize twice if the selectors decide to be thorough in picking out the deserving candidate.
While the Ngezi Platinum goal-minder is second best in terms of the number of clean sheets kept to Chicken Inn’s Donovan Bernard, the prize is not for the Golden Glove but rather for the Goalkeeper of the Year and that’s the reason it is voted for.
Donovan kept 20 clean sheets, one ahead of Chadya, but the latter dominates in all the other aspects.
Chadya has already made history after becoming the first ‘keeper to record three assists as he showed more maturity in the just-ended season.
He also faced three penalties from which he saved two.The 26-year-old won the Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022 and he also made it on the Soccer Stars calendar for the second season running last year.
That means he will become the first goalkeeper to make it on the calendar three times in a row if he also makes the Best 11 nomination.
“It has been one of the most difficult seasons for us as Ngezi Platinum Stars. We had to balance it on three fronts as we were trying to defend the league title and also make an impact in the CAF Champions League.
“We were also pursuing the Chibuku Super Cup where we are playing the final against Dynamos on Saturday.
“I really appreciate my teammates and the efforts made by everyone at the team.”
Online Reporter