The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
THE 2021/2022 season could rank as the worst, in terms of attendance, since the inception of the Premier Soccer League in 1993.
Last weekend’s “Battle of Zimbabwe” clash between traditional giants Dynamos and Highlanders highlighted the depth of problems that have rocked the Premiership, as the biggest fixture in the land attracted less than 2 000 fans at the giant National Sports Stadium.
Poor crowds have been attributed to a number of issues, among them lack of robust marketing. Some cite mediocre performances by Premiership teams as the main reason fans are turning their backs on the league.
They argue that the league is now missing the magicians who used to lure crowds at the stadiums.
Reaching 20 goals in the PSL has become too much of an ask for local strikers, while dribblers and passers have all but disappeared.
Dead-ball specialists are now scarce.
No PSL striker has breached the 20-goal mark since 2010, when Norman Maroto scored 22 goals for Motor Action.
In the midst of the problems haunting the top-flight, a Soccer Star of the Year winner still has to be chosen.
Football writers, coaches and club captains will soon convene to select the best 11 players of the season and, ultimately, winner of the coveted Soccer Star of the Year award.
They will also select the best coach and the Rookie Player of the Year.
The PSL chiefs are yet to announce the selection date but what is certain is that the Soccer Star banquet will be held after the Chibuku Super Cup final is staged. Bulawayo Chiefs and Herentals clash in the Chibuku Super Cup final at Barbourfields Stadium on November 19.
With the season drawing to a close, debate on who will succeed Joel “Josta” Ngodzo (2019) as Soccer Star of the Year has become animated.
Makepekepe have provided two Soccer Star of the Year winners in the last five seasons, with Hardlife Zvirekwi claiming it in 2016.
Traditional giants Dynamos last produced a Soccer Star of the Year winner in 2013, when Tawanda Muparati took the trophy home.
And it is now 20 years since Highlanders produced a Soccer Star of the Year. Former centre-back Dazzy Kapenya, who won the top gong in 2002, remains the only player from Bosso to bag the award in the last two decades.
During its weekly programme called “The Couch”, the Zimpapers television channel, ZTN Prime, recently solicited names of potential contenders for the top prize from various local football writers.
From the lists, the FC Platinum duo of goalkeeper Wallace Magalane and Walter Musona; Frank Makarati (Dynamos); William Manondo (CAPS United); and Divine Mhindirira of Highlanders featured prominently.
FC Platinum defenders Lawrence Mhlanga and Gift Bello, as well as box-to-box midfielder Brian “BB” Banda, have also been touted as some of the players to make the cut.
More Moyo, a former Buymore striker, who is now a ZTN Prime pundit, hailed FC Platinum keeper Magalane.
“For me, Magalane is the best keeper in the league for the simple reason that ever since he got into the starting line-up, FC Platinum have never lost a league match,” said Moyo.
The shot-stopper, who, at some point, recorded 10 consecutive clean sheets, now has 15 clean sheets in 19 league matches.
The Black Rhinos trio of striker Eli Ilunga, captain Farai Banda and centre-back Farai Madhake are also in the mix.
Versatile Yadah player Lennox Mucheto has also been consistently mentioned.
Lynoth Chikuhwa, who has 10 goals for Highlanders, and his compatriot Godfrey Makaruse, who was converted into a vibrant wing-back by Brazilian coach Baltemar Brito, are also in, with a big chance to make it onto the calendar.
Bulawayo Chiefs, who will meet Herentals in the Chibuku Super Cup final, could provide either bustling striker Obriel Chirinda or exciting midfielder Mthokosizi Msebe.
Chicken Inn’s trio of goalkeeper Donovan Bernard, Brett Amidu and Xolani Ndlovu are also on the radar.
However, it looks like the battle for the Soccer Star of the Year award could be among the quartet of Musona, Makarati, Mhindirira and Manondo. Musona was instrumental in FC Platinum’s march towards the championship title. However, there have been instances where a Soccer Star of the Year came from a team that had failed to win the league title.
Masimba Dinyero even took the top gong to Division One in 1989, after Black Mambas were relegated from the elite league.
Ex-Warriors striker Agent Sawu won it with Zimbabwe Saints in 1993, the same year that Bosso won the inaugural Premiership title.
Hwange’s Walter Chuma did it in 1997, albeit in a scandalous and controversial fashion, which forced Delta Beverages to withdraw their sponsorship.
Delta only returned in 2000.
Maxwell Dube (Chapungu, 2001), Energy Murambadoro (CAPS United, 2003), Clement Matawu (Motor Action, 2006), Evans Chikwaikwai (Sundowns, 2008), Dennis Dauda (ZPC Kariba, 2014) and Ngodzo (CAPS United, 2019) have all won the Soccer Star of the Year in the season in which their teams did not win the title.
This has been attributed, especially in recent years, to the fact that panellists who choose the stars convene before the season ends, usually before the last decisive game of the season.
Consequently, panellists have tended to award players based on current log standings, which have often changed in the final weeks of the league.
When Ngodzo won it in 2019, CAPS United were clear favourites to win the title at the time the selection was done, but Makepekepe sensationally collapsed in their last two games and ended up finishing third, behind FC Platinum and Chicken Inn. When Dauda took it in 2014, ZPC Kariba were shoe-in for the title, going into the last match of the season when the panellists convened.
However, Dynamos did a smash-and-grab job on the final day of the season, beating How Mine at the National Sports Stadium, while ZPC Kariba were stunned 3-2 by a CAPS United side that had nothing to play for at Gwanzura.
In most instances, the selection has been done before the championship is decided, but this time FC Platinum were crowned champions after Match Day 31.
So, could this be an advantage for FC Platinum players?
Only time will tell.
