The Sunday Mail
DRESSED in an elegant blue suit, the fashion conscious Lloyd Chitembwe cracked one of his endless jokes as he approached the table reserved for coaches.
“You have to be from Chitungwiza for you to win the league title. Lloyd (Mutasa) come back to Chitungwiza if you want to win it,” Chitembwe said with a chuckle.
Lloyd Mutasa, Taurai Mangwiro, Darlington Dodo, Bigboy Mawiwi, Wilson Mutekede and Norman Mapeza were some of the coaches seated on the table at an elegant Soccer Star of the Year banquet held at Cresta Lodge Friday night.
Chitembwe took a seat close to newly crowned Coach of the Year Mapeza and the two could be seen whispering in each other’s ears as MCs Barry Manandi and Mike Madoda delivered another masterpiece onstage.
The 2017 winning coach Mapeza hails from Chitungwiza.
He succeeded Chitembwe whose family house is a stone throw away from the Mapeza household.
Kalisto Pasuwa, who won four straight titles between 2011 and 2014 with Dynamos, also hails from the dormitory town.
Guest of honour Peter Ndlovu looked immaculate in a maroon suit and his simplicity charmed Cameroonian import Christian Joel Epoupa.
Epoupa was amazed at the way the awards ceremony was staged and was left dumbfounded when the great Ndlovu mentioned his name during his keynote speech.
“I always hear about this guy (Ndlovu), the great things he did for Zimbabwe but I didn’t expect him to be this down to earth,” revealed Epoupa.
“This was a well-organized event. Back in Cameroon I attended one or two awards ceremonies but this here is top level,” he added.
The awards night capped the Silver Jubilee year for the Premiership in which 620 goals were scored in 306 matches.
Five-time runner up Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, who looked flawless in a black suit, was also recognized for his achievements by Delta Beverages Marketing Director Maxen Karombo who once again reminded the guests of his love for Caps United.
The ageless Clement Matawu also received special mention after the Chicken Inn star midfielder made it onto the Soccer Star calendar for the sixth time – a new Premiership record.
But the biggest ovation of them all was reserved for Warriors legend Ndlovu as he walked towards the podium to deliver his speech, which he jokingly revealed was prepared by his daughter Natalie.
“The last time I was on this stage was back in 1991, receiving the Soccer Star of the Year award and I am back again in a different capacity,” Ndlovu said.
The former Coventry star also spoke about his love for Liverpool and how his close friends mocked him after scoring a hat trick against The Reds at Anfield.
“I would always tell them that even though I loved Liverpool, Coventry were my employers.”
Then it was time for the awards, with FC Platinum midfielder Rodwell Chinyengetere being named the 2017 Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year ahead of teammate Kelvin Moyo and Dynamos skipper Ocean Mushure.
Caps United striker Dominic Chungwa kissed his wife before he went to receive his Golden Boot award while Rahman Gumbo rose from his seat to congratulate Mapeza for bagging the Coach of the Year award.
Mutasa, who many believe deserved the award, also rose and gave Mapeza a hearty hug.
“He (Mapeza) deserves it, at the end of the day Dynamos were second best,” Mutasa said.
Ruzive Ruzive was given the Referee of the Year award for the second consecutive season amid murmurs of discontent, while others felt Bosso’s Bhukosi Ncube was a more deserving candidate for the Young Player’s accolade than Leeroy Mavhunga of Yadah FC.
As the night grew older, guests trickled out of the venue but Ndlovu could not leave before pouring his heart out on a subject that has been tormenting his soul.
The demise of Highlanders.
The Bulawayo giants have no player on the calendar for the first time in years.
They finished the season sixth and 25 points behind champions FC Platinum. And their legend is not amused at all. “Someone or some people in the position of power at the club have to do something very quickly. My heart is bleeding for Bosso, you know it is the team that groomed me and it pains me to see the standards at the club falling,” mourned Ndlovu.
