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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
HERENTALS striker Blessing Majarira has emerged as the favourite to walk away with the ZIFA Northern Region Division One Soccer Star accolade when the league host their awards in Harare on December 13. The Harare outfit were promoted into the Castle Lager Premiership after clinching the lower league title with seven matches to spare and have provided two players for this year’s event in Majarira and Denzel Chimwemwe.

It could actually be a night of a double for Majarira should he be crowned the Soccer Star as he has already won the Golden Boot. The awards had initially been set for today, before being moved by a week, but there is no doubt the focus is on the Soccer Star’s award which comes with a vehicle and the Herentals man, who had a brief flirtation with the Warriors, having been included in the COSAFA Castle Cup winning squad, could emulate Black Rhinos goalkeeper Herbert Rusawo, who claimed the top prize last year.

While Majarira is being tipped for the top prize, the club’s director — Innocent Benza — might get an award reserved for the oldest players who excelled in the league.

Innocent, who is the co-owner of the club with his twin brother Gerald, defied his age of 45 years as he featured in 80 percent of Herentals’ matches this season.

The Harare businessman will battle it out with Golden Valley’s former Black Rhinos midfielder Menard Mupera (37), Godfrey Brown (37) and the Darwin United pair of Stephen Galanti and Batsirai Munengwa who are 36 and 35 years old respectively.

ZRP FC’s Innocent Nyoni and George Chikweva both at 35 years are also in the running.