The Sunday News
Allan Foti, Sunday News Correspondent
SPORTS journalists and Premier Soccer League coaches will soon get to select the country’s eleven best players, coach of the year and referee of the year and speculation is already high regarding the possible winners and losers in 2017.
This week, Sunday Life takes a look at some of the rookie players, coaches and referees who have raised their hands in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League 2017 season and among the contenders for the various individual gongs.
Rookie of the Year
Two players have stood out in this category in 2017, displaying maturity that belies both their ages and their lack of experience in the Premiership.
These two youngsters, a goalkeeper and a forward, have given performances that have often left opposition fans and players astounded at the quality of their match winning performances.
Delic Murimba (Hwange Football Club) 18 years old
The gangly forward has been a shining light in a nightmare season for the coal miners this season. A product of the mining town’s development programmes and signed from ZPC Hwange, Murimba has scored some vital goals for his side including a stunning opener against Caps United at the National Sports Stadium last month. The forward is blessed with both skill and pace and is an able provider and finisher.
Collen Phiri (Hwange Football Club) 22 years old
Signed from FC Platinum, Phiri has all the attributes to become one of the country’s best goalkeepers. A rather rangy lad, he is built for the position although over the next few years, a few added pounds should make him an even better keeper. He has the qualities that make a good keeper great: superb reactions, good ball distribution, comfortable with crosses and a marvellous communicator who commands his in-field teammates beyond his years.
Coach of the Year
Tonderai Ndiraya (Ngezi Platinum Stars Football Club)
An intelligent, tough-as-teak midfielder during his playing days at Dynamos and Sporting Lions, the Mabvuku-born ‘Guvnor has had a break-out season at league new boys, Ngezi Platinum Stars. Ndiraya was appointed as Ngezi’s head coach at the beginning of the season and went on to sign players that suited his style of football. His approach to the game has led Ngezi to an unprecedented run at the Premiership title in his club’s maiden top flight season. Popular with his players, Ndiraya has a blend of youth and experience at the club and if selectors choose their Coach of the Year based on performance rather than who wins the title, then Ndiraya is a firm favourite to land the gong.
Lloyd Chitembwe (Caps United Football Club)
Last season’s Coach of the Year is in the running for a second consecutive honour after leading his side from the depths of what was beginning to look like a very difficult season for the defending champions. He led Makepekepe to an unprecedented Caf Champions’ League group stage spot and oversaw the stunning victories of fancied opponents. In the second round, Chitembwe’s lads beat TP Mazembe before edging top Algerian side USM Alger in the second match of the group stage. After crashing out of the champion’s league, Chitembwe began to work at bringing a struggling Caps United closer to the championship chasing clubs. He is also credited with the resurgence of striker Dominic Chungwa who is a candidate for Soccer Star of the Year and the golden boot awards.
Referee of the Year
The 2017 Castle Lager Premiership Season has been a difficult one for match officials: several matches were abandoned while many more left both fans and players alike with a bitter taste in their mouths after bad calls from the men in the middle and their colleagues on the line. The biggest controversies featured Thomas Kusosa whose judgement (right or wrong) led to the abandonment of two matches.
However, in the middle of all the bad calls and questionable judgement, there were a few stand-out officials.
Ruzive Ruzive
Leading the lot is reigning Referee of the Year, Ruzive Ruzive whose handling of what was expected to be a difficult tie between Highlanders and FC Platinum at B/F left all who attended the match happy with his officiating and with a firm belief that all was not lost in local refereeing. Many believe Platinum, who are championship contenders, have been favoured by referees over the last couple of years and expected Ruzive to be biased towards the Zvishavane side. However, the former Fifa panel match official showed his class with a polished performance that left even the hard to please Bosso fans happy with him despite having watched their side lose 2-1 to the platinum miners. Respected by players, coaches and fans, Ruzive looks like the best candidate to land the prize.
Nomore Musundire
Ruzive is joined among the contenders for the gong by Nomore Musundire who has generally had a good season bar a few bad calls this season.
Musundire is a knowledgeable ref who until his gaffe in the match between ZPC Kariba and Dynamos with the latter being denied what looked like two clear cut penalties. He has also been put to the sword for failing to dismiss Harare City hard man, Tendai Samanja in the recent Chibuku Super Cup Final. These two performances could cloud what was turning out to be a good season for him, but he is still a contender for the honour.
Martin Chiwandire
In only his second year in the Premiership, Chiwandire has shown signs of developing into a top class match official. He handled the FC Platinum-Shabanie Mine derby quite well for a novice which made football followers sit up and take notice of his budding abilities in the middle. Over time, he is expected to become one of the best in the land with one of his major shortcomings being indecisive in difficult matches. -@AllanFoti
