Hail the new King

Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
WHAT’S a King without his Queens?

In true royalty fashion, the new King of Zimbabwean football, Qadr Amini, received his crown as the best player in the land accompanied by his two wives.

A big part of the crowd that graced the Soccer Star of the Year banquet in Harare yesterday received with amazement revelations that Amini has two wives. Amini said if it wasn’t for his wives, he would have long quit football. He wanted to hang the boots at the start of the season but his wives would have none of it. They kept him in the game. The 33-year-old Amini has six children.

“My wives helped me so much at some time I was so depressed and I even told them I want to quit football and they encouraged me not to listen to what people were saying but rather push my goals,” said the 2023 Soccer Star of Year.
He said he owes his achievements to his religious beliefs.

“I am a Muslim and I am allowed to marry two wives. This religion has guided me to where I am right now. I don’t drink or smoke and I think that has helped me in my career. Obviously, I want to make it two trophies by winning the Chibuku Super Cup as well but we don’t need to put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. We have to play our normal game,” said Amini.

He said he is reaping rewards of his hard work.

Bulawayo Chiefs Obriel Chirinda

“I feel so grateful and I am so humbled. I was praying for this to happen because in my career I have played for so many years. This year I was about to retire but now I am surprised by this award. In the life of football you don’t have to give up.

I think it’s because of the hard work that I have been putting in, I think hard work pays.”
He still has two or more years to play.

“I am now going to continue for two or three years because I want to play in the Champions League. It’s a great experience to play in the Champions League, I want to play there again. If I play two more years then I can retire. All the praise goes to coach Takesure Chiragwi because he has been pushing me so hard. He said to me I know you are a senior guy and have played so many years, you need to push these youngsters to work hard for you. If you do that you will see what you will achieve. I listened well to Chiragwi’s advice,” said Amini.

Dynamos midfielder Donald Mudadi and Bulawayo Chiefs forward Obriel Chirinda were named the first and second runner-up to Amini respectively. Chiragwi who led Ngezi Platinum to their maiden league title was named the coach of the year.

His team was also recognised as the most disciplined.

Herentals forward Tinotenda Benza won the fans’ choice Player of the Year for the second time running having won the award again last year.

For his 19 clean sheets, Highlanders goal minder Ariel Sibanda got the Goalkeeper of the Year gong while Takunda Benhura of Ngezi grabbed the Golden Boot with his 13 goals.

Dynamos forward Elton Chikona is the season’s Most Promising Player. Brighton Chimene is the best referee in the land and his first runner-up is Francis Chirwa while Zondiwa Nkosana is the second. — @innocentskizoe