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Eddie Chikamhi and Grace Chingoma
CHICKEN Inn coach Joey Antipas has tipped his team’s captain Danny “Deco” Phiri to land this year’s Castle Lager Premiership Soccer Star of the Year award after four of his players made the best 11 selected by a panel of experts yesterday.

Phiri, who emerged among the favourites for this year’s top prize, headlined the list, which also had goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, striker Edmore Chirambadare and veteran midfielder Clemence Matawu, who made an amazing return to the calendar after winning the top award while at Motor Action.

The Soccer Star of the Year and his two runners-up will be announced at a banquet this Friday.

Phiri is expected to face stiff challenge from Dynamos vice-captain Ocean Mushure, who had a decent season with the Harare giants and Highlanders’ Knox Mutizwa. The Young Warriors forward is also the automatic winner of the Golden Boot award after finishing the season on top with 14 goals.

Chicken Inn’s Chirambadare and Raphael Manuvire of ZPC Kariba are the joint runners-up with 11 goals apiece.

CAPS United defender Stephen Makatuka might emerge the dark horse at this year’s awards ceremony after he made the shortlist.

The other players are Manuvire, Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Brian Muzondiwa (FC Platinum) and Hillary Bakacheza (Triangle).

However, Antipas, who had a remarkable season with the modest Bulawayo side, said the contest for the first prize should in fact be between his midfield hardman Phiri and 2006 Castle Lager Soccer Star Matawu.

“The guys definitely deserved to be on the calendar and what we are hoping for now is the soccer star of the season.

“For me it is between Deco (Phiri) and Matawu. I would want any one of them to take it. It was a good selection, all the players on the list excelled,” said Antipas.

The former Warriors coach is also favourite to land the Coach of the Year award.

Four other candidates — Lloyd Chitembwe (CAPS United), Takesure Chiragwi (Flame Lily), Jerry Makota (How Mine) and Amini Soma Phiri (Highlanders) — were not eligible for selection because they did not reach the mandatory 10 games in charge.

Antipas can only face competition from FC Platinum’s Norman Mapeza, who led his side to a strong finish following a slow start.

Interestingly, no one from last year’s finalists made it back on to the calendar this year.

This means the nation will have a new football king to replace ZPC Kariba’s Dennis Dauda who had a rather disappointing season with the Kariba side that finished 10th on the log standings.

Voting was conducted using a secret computerised electronic ballot.

The poll was supervised by a panel of experts that included media house editors, football stakeholders as well as Delta Beverages internal and external audit firms.

Besides Chicken Inn, who had four players, Dynamos are the only other team with more than one player on the list.

Defender Mushure, probably the most consistent player in the Dynamos outfit, and goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva will represent the Glamour Boys on the calendar.

The young goalkeeper was chosen for his stellar performance between the posts despite their team’s failure to retain the league title.

Their coach Tonderai Ndiraya said the duo deserved their places among the best players this season after leading their side to a second place finish.

“The two players worked very hard throughout the season. We deserved even more. I thought Godknows Murwira was also very consistent and Ronald Chitiyo was also consistent.

“But there are only 11 players chosen on the calendar and if you have not won the league, it is quite difficult for you to contribute a lot of names on the list. Chicken Inn deserves to have a lot of players.

“I also thought Harare City deserved to have a player or two on the calendar. William Manondo was consistent, but that is my feeling.

“On the coaches, I have got two names. Joey Antipas won the grand prize and deserves to get the accolade. I also thought Norman Mapeza did quite well.

“He won the Coach of the Month several times and deserves it. But these two really deserve it. I don’t know how the other guys voted but it looks Antipas might run away with it,” said Ndiraya.

FC Platinum’s Mapeza said he is looking forward to the awards night despite his side producing only one player.

Their defender Gift Bello, who had largely been tipped to grace this year’s awards, was sidelined because he picked six yellow card.

Rules state that a player is disqualified if he has two red cards or six cautions.

Players can also not be considered for selection if they have been convicted at the courts of law, by a ZIFA or PSL Disciplinary Committee.

“From what I heard, I think Danny Phiri can win it,” said Mapeza.

“I am happy we have got a player among the best footballers. I am happy for him, I think it is an achievement for us.

“The voice has spoken. As a coach I would have loved to have more players on the calendar. There are some other guys who I thought played well. Guys like the Moyo twins (Elvis and Kelvin) and Obrey Chirwa, I think they did well.

“Bello is out because of six yellow cards but I think he was our top player this season. Also Petros Mhari, I think he did well. He got about 15 clean sheets this season,” said Mapeza.

CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe was happy that Makatuka made the shortlist for the first time in his career.

“I thought we could have done more but for Stephen, I am happy for him and I am sure it will inspire him to work a lot more now that he suddenly senses that there are a lot of things he can achieve from football,” said Chitembwe.

There could be a tight contest for the Goalkeeper of the Year. It will be a tough battle between Chipezeze, Petros Mhari, Mukuruva and Chapungu’s Roy Mazingi, who enjoy the best averages in statistics after conceding only 13 from 24 games.

Chipezeze played the most games and let in 21 goals from 28 starts while Mhari conceded 16 from 23.

However, selection was not limited to statistics.

2015 Soccer Stars finalists

Elvis Chipezeze, Danny Phiri, Edmore Chirambadare, Clement Matawu (Chicken Inn), Hillary Bakacheza (Triangle), Knox Mutizwa (Highlanders), Ocean Mushure, Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Stephen Makatuka (CAPS Utd), Raphael Manuvire (ZPC Kariba), Brian Muzondiwa (FC Platinum).