The Sunday News
CHAMPIONS Tsholotsho Football Club dominated the inaugural Zifa Southern Region Machache Meats Awards, scooping the Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Top goal scorer accolades at a ceremony held at a local hotel on Friday evening.
Tsholotsho FC’s Edmore Chirambadare scooped the regional Soccer Star of the Year award and the top goal scorer’s award having netted 12 times for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League-bound side.
Championship winning coach, Lizwe Sweswe was named Coach of the Year for his efforts in taking the club to the country’s elite league.
Chirambadare went home with a total of $600 for his sweat while Sweswe was rewarded with $250.
The lanky striker was delight for the honour saying the awards would boost his confidence ahead of his club’s maiden appearance in the PSL next year.
“I am overjoyed at getting the awards. Being rewarded for my efforts will push me to do better next year when playing in the Premiership,” said Chirambadare.
Black Boots’ Simon Njeleza was the second runner-up, receiving $100 while Kelvin Nyoni of Technosphere emerged the first runner-up pocketing $150 in the process.
Other players who made it into the top 11 were rewarded with $50 each. These include Gift Mbweti of Technosphere, Tsholotsho’s Chang Mariyone, Trumus’ Brian Chikwenya, Kudakwashe Kundishora (Plumtree Chiefs), Wellington Chipendo (Mpumalanga), Fidelis Dube (Ntabazinduna), Webster Kondowe (New West) and Desire Shumbanhete (ZPC Hwange).
The ceremony was attended by the Zifa Southern Region board, Zifa vice-president Omega Sibanda, Zimbabwe Women Football vice-chairlady, Elizabeth Langa, Zifa Bulawayo Province chairman Washington Chimanda and club officials.
Speaking at the ceremony Zifa Southern Region chairman, Musa Mandaza paid tribute to Machache Meats for funding the awards at a time when a lot of corporate entities were shying away from putting money into football.
He appealed to other companies to emulate Machache if football was to reach its yesteryear heights.
“It is indeed a sacrifice to the Machache family as we are all aware of the economic challenges that are bedeviling our country and it really takes people with an amazing love of this beautiful game of ours to do what they have done,” said Mandaza.
He said the awards were a celebration of the achievements of the Division One players “who distinguished themselves throughout the season with good and consistent performance”.
“I take this opportunity to challenge the players who made it into the top 11 not to be content with this achievement but should now aspire to play for our national team and also take aim at higher leagues and even seek glory in European clubs,” added Mandaza.
He also paid tribute to administrators saying they were a vital cog in ensuring football remained professional.
Mandaza said it was critical to give sponsors full mileage for their support through promoting and supporting their products and businesses.
He challenged Government to offer more incentives to businesses that were supporting sport in the country.
Munashe Machache, who was representing his father, Lodias who failed to make it the ceremony, said it was critical to honour those at the bottom as they were the foundation for bigger leagues and urged the players to practice fair play at all times in sport.
In a speech read on his behalf by Sibanda, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa said the awards were critical as they were a vital incentive for the players to excel more on the field.
Langa also paid tribute to Machache and Mandaza for their efforts in honouring the players.
He said Mandaza had worked tirelessly in seeking support from companies and in the process encouraging Machache Meats to embrace ”the most beautiful game.”
Langa said he was hopeful the sporting infrastructure that was given a facelift in the run up to the African Sports Council Region Five under -20 Youth Games in Bulawayo will be effectively utilised.
“We will need to work together towards the fruitful utilisation of the venues that were renovated for the AUSC Region Five Games.
“May the best player who wins today go on to represent the region well,” said Langa.
Mandaza also made a plea for the administrators who had over the years made efforts in improving football across the board to be recognised.
ZIFA Southern region awarded Bulawayo Province committee member John Mutero and Zifa Southern Region board member Dennis Tshuma for their sterling efforts in football administration.
Mandaza said it was critical for administrators to be honoured, have their history recorded and that it was saddening that there was no documented history of football bureaucrats at the Zifa offices in Bulawayo.
