The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter—
| CAPS United and Warriors defender, Hardlife Zvirekwi, has admitted that being crowned this year’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League soccer star of the year was a big surprise considering how the season started for him. |
The roving right-back enjoyed a sensational 2016 season, winning the league title with the Green Machine and was part of the Warriors squad that qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals set for Gabon in January.
Zvirekwi beat off stiff competition from his teammate, Leonard Tsipa and FC Platinum goalkeeper, Petros Mhari, who were named first and second runner-up, respectively.
The 29-year-old walked away with a $5 000 cheque, in addition to the $1 000 for being selected as one of the 11 best players this season.
However, in an interview, the former Agatha Sheneti Soccer Academy player, said the dismal performance with the Warriors that culminated into an early Chan tournament exit marked a bad start to the season.
“This is something I really did not expect at all. It was a pleasant surprise to me. Although I had set a target that one day I would want to receive the prestigious accolade, I never thought it would come this year. The dismal performance with the Warriors that culminated into an early Chan tournament exit marked a bad start to the season and that also made me feel like I would not be the one.
“This made the award even more exciting. The feeling was just out of this world especially when I hardly expected it. Now that I have gone through this I am looking into the future with confidence and hoping to play abroad at the highest level,” said Zvirekwi, who once turned out for Harare United and Gunners FC before joining the Green Machine.
On last Friday’s Castle Lager soccer stars of the year banquet held in the capital, Tsipa was rewarded for leading Caps United from the front, scoring 11 goals to help his club to championship success for the first time in 11 years.
The striker, who turns 35 in January, is also the Golden Boot award winner, which has a $2 000 purse, adding to the $3 000 for coming second and another $1 000 for being named as one of the best 11.
Mhari was outstanding for league runners-up, FC Platinum, who conceded the fewest goals in the league, 15, from 30 matches. He walked away with a combined $3 000.
Caps United coach, Lloyd Chitembwe was deservedly voted coach of the year for leading his team to glory and for his troubles he received $3 500.
Young Prince Dube was voted the rookie of the year for his exceptional season in his first year in the league with Highlanders.
The winners were voted for by a panel of selectors early this week, who included football writers, coaches and team captains.
The referee of the year, voted for by the Zimbabwe Soccer Referees’ Association, is Ruzive Ruzive, who walked away with $2 000.
Bulawayo side, How Mine who finished the season 10th, received some sort of a consolation when they were awarded the most disciplined team and received $10 000.
Award recipients:
Soccer Star of the Year: Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United)
First Runner-up: Leonard Tsipa (Caps United)
Second Runner-up: Petros Mhari (FC Platinum)
Goalkeeper of the Year: Petros Mhari (FC Platinum)
Most Promising Young Player: Prince Dube (Highlanders)
Coach of the Year: Lloyd Chitembwe (Caps United)
Referee of the Year: Ruzive Ruzive
Most Disciplined Team of the Year: How Mine
2016 Soccer Stars of the Year finalists:
Liberty Chakoroma (Ngezi Platinum), Clemence Matawu (Chicken Inn), Gift Mbweti (Hwange), Winstone Mhango (FC Platinum), Petros Mhari (FC Platinum), Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders), Godknows Murwira (Dynamos), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Caps United), Leonard Tsipa (Caps United), Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United).
