DeMbare goalkeeper Washington Arubi and skipper George Magariro were part of the A-list football players chosen by a panel comprising sports writers and seven premiership coaches.
FC Platinum weighed in with Tafadzwa Dube and Donald Ngoma while Bosso’s Rahman Kutsanzira and Graham Ncube will grace the country’s most popular calendar. The other finalists chosen are Cliff Sekete (Gunners), Allen Gahadzikwa (Motor Action), Nkosana Siwela (Hwange), Abbas Amidu (Black Mambas) and Tapiwa Khumbuyani (CAPS United).
The Soccer Star of the Year, who will walk away with US$5 000 and a trophy, will be announced at a banquet on December 9. The race for the football king is likely to be between Arubi and Ncube.
The first runner-up will pocket US$3 000 and the second runners up will each pocket US$2 000. Arubi was also voted the Goalkeeper of the Year after conceding 13 goals in 28 matches. He beat Dube to the award which has a purse of US$2 000. Dube conceded 12 goals in 21 matches.
Dynamos hotshot Rodreck Mutuma was the major casualty at the selection after he was disqualified for picking six yellows cards in the just ended season. FC Platinum’s Charles Sibanda was also disqualified for his altercation with Chicken Inn coach Adam Ndlovu.
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FC Platinum’s Zephaniah Ngodzo and Evans Gwekwerere (CAPS United) were also disqualified for picking six yellow cards each. Isaac Masame, who picked eight yellow cards during the season, was also disqualified. David Sengu, who also convicted of bedding a minor, also fell by the wayside.
The finalists for the Rookie of the Year (Under 20) were Dynamos’ Denver Mukamba, Sekete and Chicken Inn’s Morris Kadzola. The winner of the new award will also be announced on December 9 and will pocket US$2 000. Hwange were voted the most disciplined team after accruing 245 points and will each pocket US$1 000 at the banquet.
