PSL to crown 2024 Soccer Star of the Year tomorrow
MICHAEL KARIATI
The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League will crown the 2024 Soccer Star of the Year tomorrow night during a prestigious banquet.
The award is expected to go to either to Simba Bhora’s Walter Musona or Yadah’s Khama Billiat, who are the favourites for the top accolade.
Billiat marked a successful return to Zimbabwean football with inspiring performances for Yadah, scoring memorable goals, while Musona played a pivotal rolein helping Simba Bhora clinch the PSL title.
Musona is aiming to become only the third player in history to win the award more than once, joining the late George Shaya, Stanley Ndunduma and Peter Ndlovu.
Shaya won the award five times, while Ndunduma and Ndlovu each won it twice.
The award was introduced in 1969, the same year Shaya claimed his first title.
Musona, who won the award in 2022 while playing for FC Platinum, is considered by many to be a frontrunner.
For Caps United goalkeeper, George Mudiwa stated: . “I think the battle will be between Musona and Khama although I feel Musona was a few steps ahead.”
Some believe that Golden Boot Award winner Lynoth Chikuhwa who scored 17 goals for Highlanders is the dark horse for the top award.
The other finalists for the accolade are Isheunesu Mauchi, Blessing Moyo, Tymon Machope, and Webster Tafa all Simba Bhora, Donovan Bernard (Chicken Inn), Kingsley Mureremba (CAPS United)
Godknows Murwira (CAPS United) and
Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos)
The Soccer Star of the Year will receive a cool US$7 500 while the first runner up will take home US$4 500. The third runner up will pocket US$3 750.
The other finalists will receive US$1 200 each while Chikuhwa as the top scorer has a US$6 375 cheque waiting for him for collection.
It has been an eventful week for Musona, Billiat, Murwira, and Jalai, who were also awarded US$6500 by President Emerson Mnangagwa for their contributions in helping the Warriors qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Additional awards will be given for the Most Promising Player of the year, the Goalkeeper of the Year, the Most Disciplined Team, the Referee of the Year while Simba Bhora’s Tonderai Ndiraya is a strong contender for the Coach of the Year Award.
