NEWLY-crowned Castle Lager Premier Soccer, League (PSL) champions Caps United are set to dominate the Soccer Stars of the Year calendar, as football writers and coaches converge in Harare today to select the stand-out performers this season.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
Head coaches of all the 16 PSL clubs, team captains and selected journalists will carry out the exercise of selecting this year’s 11 finest footballers, as well as the Coach of the Year.
And, a number Caps United players are likely to feature on the calendar, after a stellar season, which saw them winning the championship for the first time in 11 years.
Caps United left-back, Ronald Pfumbidzai is one player who went beyond the call of duty with some distinguished performances that helped the club land the crown in a close race against FC Platinum.
His influence in the Green Machine triggered calls by some for him to get a call-up to the Warriors ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals to be staged in Gabon.
Hardlife Zvirekwi was consistent for both club and country and it will be difficult for the selectors to ignore his contribution, especially in light of his team’s achievements. He is a strong contender for the overall Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year award.
Veteran striker, Leonard Tsipa is sure to make the cut after finishing the season as the league’s top goalscorer with 11 goals. At 34, Tsipa has belied his age to decide key contests culminating in the team finally realising their championship dream having waited for over a decade. He has a strong case for the overall award.
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Team captain, Moses Muchenje and Joel Ngodzo will also make a strong shout for inclusion among the Soccer Stars of the Year.
Coach, Lloyd Chitembwe is likely to be voted Coach of the Year after having written a glorious page for Caps United adding another championship medal, but this time as a coach, having won it as a player during Charles Mhlauri’s reign. He has also finished the season without tasting defeat at the National Sports Stadium since he assumed the post in September last year. His rivals could be Norman Mapeza of FC Platinum, Highlanders’ Erol Akbay and possibly Tonderai Ndiraya, who came in midway through the season to change the fortunes of new boys, Ngezi Platinum Stars, who put together nine wins in the second half of the season after a bad start.
FC Platinum are also set to have a sizeable contribution on the players’ front, with Walter Musona, Winston Mhango, Kevin Moyo and goalkeeper, Petros Mhari having shone like beacons for the Zvishavane-based side, who swapped top spot with Caps United and Highlanders throughout the season, only to finish two points behind the Green Machine.
Dynamos might have struggled in the just-ended campaign, in which they failed to finish in the top four managing a fifth-place finish, but Godknows Murwira was one of the stand-out players for the former champions. Highlanders, who finished in third place on the table, could see Rahman Kutsanzira, Prince Dube, Simon Munawa and Peter Muduhwa making their cases to be included on the calendar. The four had a brilliant season for the Bulawayo giants.
Bruce Kangwa, who left the club at the halfway stage of the campaign, could also make it among the finest 11 for the season. Other players in with a good chance include Hwange striker Gift Mbweti, who scored nine goals this season, and ZPC Kariba’s Talent Chawapihwa.
The 11 Soccer Star of the Year finalists will be announced today, but the Soccer Star of the Year, Coach of the Year and Referee of the Year will be revealed at an awards dinner later next month.
