The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi’s FOOTY FOOTNOTES
WITH business in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League approaching its pinnacle, the fixation of followers of the local game has naturally fallen on what has been of the teams’ performances over the course of the season. On the two ends of the log, both the top and the tail, the championship is beckoning some clubs while relegation is threatening others. Where some clubs have been on point during the campaign, others have clearly not pulled their weight.
This naturally casts the spotlight on how players have fared in pushing the cause of their clubs, which exertions shall at the end of the term be assessed and rewarded with a prestigious slot on the insanely popular “calendar” which embodies the Soccer Stars of the Year.
And as per tradition next month (November) a panel of experts that comprises selected scribes, team coaches and club captains gather for the annual ceremony to pick the finest players who illuminated the domestic scene for the term under review. Purportedly selected on merit, a list of the 11 finalists is first named before the top three footballers – the winner and his two runners-up – are announced the following month (December). The categories expected to be voted for, going by last season’s rite, include Soccer Star of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Referee of the Year and Rookie (Most Promising Under-19 Player) of the Year.
Forget that the outcome of this procedure has sometimes sharply divided opinion, with pundits and fans alike haggling over the inclusions and omissions of some players, because at the end of the day we will all tend to agree to disagree. As such, teams whose exploits have loomed large during the campaign are expected to provide the bulk of the protagonists to make the grade. The usual suspects – Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United – are always likely to provide a player, however.
The former, especially, will almost certainly see one of their own return on the “calendar” after missing out last season for only the second time in the awards’ history since they were introduced in 1969 (the other being 2005).
But who have been the league’s leading lights on the park? Which players have been astoundingly outstanding, sticking out like a sore thumb with sublime performances and should be rewarded for their brilliance and excellence? Footballers whose teams have outrivaled others in the chase for glory may conspicuously come across as prominent actors, but there are some from ostensibly obscure clubs who deserve special mention and recognition for the consistent first-rate shifts they have put in.
Also, it would be interesting to see which players retain their places among the crème le de crème for the second successive season. Already, there has been such precedence over the past two terms with incumbent king Rodwell Chinyengetere and Kevin Moyo (both FC Platinum) starring to make the list for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. From the previous campaign’s cast, reigning stars Joel Ngodzo, Phenias Bamusi and Ariel Sibanda have been tipped as 2019 finalists. Below we list in no particular order the players whose spark ignited the current Premiership season and are frontrunners fro selection:
Joel Ngodzo and Phenias Bamusi (both CAPS United); Ariel Sibanda and Prince Dube (both Highlanders); Emmanuel Jalai and Evans Katema (both Dynamos); Ian Nekati (ZPC Kariba); Ralph Kawondera (Triangle); Partson Jaure (Manica Diamonds); Never Tigere (FC Platinum); Juan Mutudza (Herentals); Wellington Taderera (Black Rhinos); Ishmael Wadi (Harare City).
If it is about football that you care let’s share the cheer because we are made for the game, mad about the game!
Feedback:
Manica Diamonds are now doing well. Winning against Chicken Inn was a great result and with these performances a top four finish is possible. – Tawanda Mhlanga, Dangamvura.
How are you, Sir? You no longer furnish us with Eastern Region Diviosn One fixtures. Thank you. – 0772 661 164.
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