Dynamos striker Rodreck Mutuma is regretting accumulating “unnecessary” yellow cards that cost him a place in this year’s Soccer Stars of the Year finalists.
The lanky forward — who scooped the Golden Boot Award after netting 14 goals in his maiden appearance in the Premier League — missed out on the calendar after getting disqualified by the selectors for amassing six yellow cards, four of which were for dissent.
Speaking after receiving his award on Friday, Mutuma said his disqualification from the selection had taught him a lesson.
“I think I deserved to be on the soccer stars list, but because of yellow cards which I picked during the season, I was disqualified.
“I will try to do my best not to confront the referees or the opposition players next season. It was very painful for me to miss out on the award because I thought I had done enough to get in there. But in as much as I admit that some of the cards were unnecessary, I think the referees were also a bit harsh on me sometimes,” said Mutuma.
His teammate Denver Mukamba, who has also earned himself a bad boy tag for crossing the match officials’ lines, said: “It was a learning process for me and I’m trying very hard to change my attitude. It’s not always good to appear in newspapers for the wrong reasons. People should talk about my skills on the pitch and nothing else. Next season I will be a changed person and I promise some fireworks.”
Both players are expected to play a leading role for Dynamos in the African Champions League next season.
The Harare giants have been drawn to play either Mafunzo of Zanzibar or Muculmano de Maputo of Mozambique in the first round after they received a bye.
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If they win, they will play newly crowned African champions Esperance of Tunisia for a place in the group stages.
Zimbabwe’s other representatives in the Champions League, FC Platinum, will take on Green Mambas of Swaziland in the preliminary round and if they win, they will face El Merreikh of Sudan in the first round.
Former African champions TP Mazembe await them in the second round if they negotiate past the opening two hurdles.
Platinum will announce the names of their new signings on Wednesday.
These are likely to include the Gunners pair of Ali Sadiki and Cliff Sekete, among a host of players who have been attending trials in the last two weeks.
