The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
ZIMBABWEAN football legends concur that the 2016 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League will rank as one of the worst in terms of spark and individual brilliance. With just two games before the season concludes, debate on who will be the Soccer Star of the Year is reaching a crescendo.
Yesteryear great Ernest Kamba was blunt in his assessment: he believes no player deserves to win the Soccer Star of the Year gong he won back in ‘73.
“There is no Soccer Star at all, we no longer have players who thrill and give fans something to go home and talk about. I don’t know how the selectors will come up with the final eleven, let alone the Soccer Star of the Year,” he said.
The 1996 Soccer Star of the Year Stewart “Shutto” Murisa – a veteran of the Premiership who played for the Big Three of Caps United, Dynamos and Highlanders – also has serious reservations.
“Selectors will have a torrid time trying to come up with the Soccer Stars of the Year because there were no stand-out performers. Most players blew hot and cold but obviously there are a few who impressed,” said the former Warriors striker.
“Hardlife Zvirekwi had a fine season for Caps United, veteran Leonard Tsipa was up there and so is this youngster from Hwange, Gift Mbweti.”
The 34-year-old Tsipa is the Premiership’s top scorer with 11 goals, two ahead of Hwange’s Mbweti according to statistics released by the Premier Soccer League last Friday. A championship medal winner with Makepekepe in 1996, Murisa also tips FC Platinum defensive linkman Winston Mhango to make it onto the 2016 Soccer Stars calendar, and that Dynamos’ goalie Tatenda Mukuruva should have a shout despite his side’s unconvincing season. Mukuruva has 13 clean sheets in 22 games for Dynamos.
“Highlanders left back Honest Moyo was impressive, so were Talent Chawapiwa of ZPC Kariba and Caps United’s Ronald Pfumbidzai,” said Murisa.
Murisa’s strike partner in the trailblazing Caps United of 1996, Alois “Gazza” Bunjira, has been charmed more by the competitive nature of the season than the quality of play. Being a former tear-away forward, who also did well in the South African Premiership, it is only natural that Bunjira’s eyes are fixated on wingers.
He heaped massive praise on the duo of Caps United’s Phineas Bhamusi and ZPC Kariba’s slippery Talent Chawapiwa.
“They are a rare breed of wingers, they can take on defenders and whip in serious crosses. Bhamusi is United’s unsung hero. Zvirekwi and Pfumbidzai were on top of their game; Tsipa’s goals are the reason why Caps United are top of the log.
“We also had some good centre-backs as well: Stephen Makatuka (Caps United), Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders) and Kelvin Moyo (FC Platinum) were consistent,” said Bunjira.
The FC Platinum duo of goalkeeper Petros Mhari and Mhango, as well as Bosso’s rookie Prince Dube, also caught Bunjira’s eye.
Mutare City’s Kudakwashe Gurure and Mbweti of Hwange should make the calendar, according to Bunjira.
Playing for a team that has the league’s worst defence, Gurure’s eight goals gave Mutare City supporters something to cheer in a season that the Eastern Highlands team fought relegation from match day one.
Previous Winners
2006 – Clemence Matawu
2007 – Murape Murape
2008 – Evans Chikwaikwai
2009 – Ramson Zhuwawo
2010 – Charles Sibanda
2011 – Washington Arubi
2012 – Denver Mukamba
2013 – Tawanda Muparati
2014 – Dennis Dauda
2015 – Danny Phiri
