Sports / Soccer
Soccer Star of the Year selection on tonight
04 Dec 2015 at 05:45hrs | Views
BULAWAYO football fans have tipped inspirational Chicken Inn skipper Danny "Deco" Phiri to lift the 2015 Soccer Star of the Year gong at this evening's awards banquet in Harare.
The Warriors' African Nations Championship (Chan) captain has been a vital cog at the newly crowned Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions this season and fans said Phiri deserves to be named Zimbabwe's top player this evening when Chronicle Sport took to the streets of Bulawayo yesterday afternoon.
Some fans also tipped Highlanders' forward Knox Mutizwa, who was voted for by all 59 panellists during polling in Harare on Monday.
Living Bosso legend Dumisani "Savimbi" Nyoni led the chorus for Phiri to clinch the award, saying Mutizwa must be the first runner-up and Dynamos' Ocean Mushure second runner-up.
Staunch DeMbare supporter and city taxi operator Phineas Mazorodze said Phiri was the clear favourite.
"It's definitely going to be Deco with his teammate Clemence Matawu getting the first runner-up slot and FC Platinum's Brian Muzondiwa the second runner-up," said Mazorodze, who believes Mutizwa will not make the top three.
City businessman Martin Chigondo also said Deco was his first choice for the award with Mutizwa and DeMbare's teenage goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva being his first and second runners-up respectively.
"If things were done fairly, Deco rightfully deserves to get that award with Knox coming second, largely because he played a few games compared to Deco," said Chigondo.
Bosso fan George Sibanda of Cowdray Park said he had no doubt in his mind that Mutizwa would scoop the biggest individual football honour in the country.
"It's obvious Mutizwa will take it. The guy played well. His runners-up will be the Chicken Inn duo of Edmore Chirambadare and goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze," said Sibanda.
Former Zifa Bulawayo province official Faith Silandulo Dube tipped Deco, Mutizwa and Chipezeze for honour in that order.
"It's hard really but I think Deco will take the big one followed by Mutizwa and Chipezeze," said Dube, who is also a Highlanders supporter.
Another Highlanders supporter Raymond Maqethuka Dube concurred with Faith, but said his third choice was Chirambadare.
The winner tonight will have his bank account credited with $5,000, the first runner-up $3,000 and second runner-up $2,000, while the other finalists will each get $1,000 courtesy of the sponsors Delta Beverages through their Castle Lager brand.
Tonight's winner will become the 46th Soccer Star of the Year since the award was introduced in 1969 that saw the legendary George Shaya winning the inaugural award.
The reigning Soccer Star of the year is ZPC Kariba's Dennis Dauda.
The panellists also voted for the Goalkeeper of the Year as well as the promising Under-20 player. Both these awards are likely to be won by Mukuruva.
The Referee of the Year and his assistant will also be unveiled tonight, and Philani Ncube and Nduna Nkosana lead the race, while Salani Ncube could be in line for the assistant's award.
The Warriors' African Nations Championship (Chan) captain has been a vital cog at the newly crowned Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions this season and fans said Phiri deserves to be named Zimbabwe's top player this evening when Chronicle Sport took to the streets of Bulawayo yesterday afternoon.
Some fans also tipped Highlanders' forward Knox Mutizwa, who was voted for by all 59 panellists during polling in Harare on Monday.
Living Bosso legend Dumisani "Savimbi" Nyoni led the chorus for Phiri to clinch the award, saying Mutizwa must be the first runner-up and Dynamos' Ocean Mushure second runner-up.
Staunch DeMbare supporter and city taxi operator Phineas Mazorodze said Phiri was the clear favourite.
"It's definitely going to be Deco with his teammate Clemence Matawu getting the first runner-up slot and FC Platinum's Brian Muzondiwa the second runner-up," said Mazorodze, who believes Mutizwa will not make the top three.
City businessman Martin Chigondo also said Deco was his first choice for the award with Mutizwa and DeMbare's teenage goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva being his first and second runners-up respectively.
"If things were done fairly, Deco rightfully deserves to get that award with Knox coming second, largely because he played a few games compared to Deco," said Chigondo.
Bosso fan George Sibanda of Cowdray Park said he had no doubt in his mind that Mutizwa would scoop the biggest individual football honour in the country.
"It's obvious Mutizwa will take it. The guy played well. His runners-up will be the Chicken Inn duo of Edmore Chirambadare and goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze," said Sibanda.
Former Zifa Bulawayo province official Faith Silandulo Dube tipped Deco, Mutizwa and Chipezeze for honour in that order.
"It's hard really but I think Deco will take the big one followed by Mutizwa and Chipezeze," said Dube, who is also a Highlanders supporter.
Another Highlanders supporter Raymond Maqethuka Dube concurred with Faith, but said his third choice was Chirambadare.
The winner tonight will have his bank account credited with $5,000, the first runner-up $3,000 and second runner-up $2,000, while the other finalists will each get $1,000 courtesy of the sponsors Delta Beverages through their Castle Lager brand.
Tonight's winner will become the 46th Soccer Star of the Year since the award was introduced in 1969 that saw the legendary George Shaya winning the inaugural award.
The reigning Soccer Star of the year is ZPC Kariba's Dennis Dauda.
The panellists also voted for the Goalkeeper of the Year as well as the promising Under-20 player. Both these awards are likely to be won by Mukuruva.
The Referee of the Year and his assistant will also be unveiled tonight, and Philani Ncube and Nduna Nkosana lead the race, while Salani Ncube could be in line for the assistant's award.
Source - chronicle
