Robson Sharuko
H-Metro Editor
KING Khama was our choice as a newspaper but there is no guarantee he will take the crown when the Soccer Star of the Year is honoured in Harare tonight.
We settled for Khama because we felt he provided the biggest impact by a football in our top-flight league this season and single-handedly gave it a value as its appeal spread beyond our borders.
He was the only footballer in the PSL who was wooing football fans around the country to come to the stadium just to watch him play or, in the case of others, just for a selfie with him.
And, he showed that it wasn’t just about his profile as he starred on the pitch, providing some of the magical moments of the season, while also scoring 13 goals to finish as the runner-up to Golden Boot award winner Lynoth Chikuhwa.
But, as a newspaper, we don’t select the Soccer Star of the Year. Those who select – a group of journalists, Premier League coaches and captains – have already made their choice and the winner will be revealed tonight in Harare.
It could be Walter Musona, who was outstanding in powering Simba Bhora to their maiden league championship crown this season, or his teammate Tymon Machope.
Should Musona win, it will be his second Soccer Star of the Year gong.
His brother Knowledge, who is a far better footballer, did not win the award because he never played his professional football in this country.
The gong could go to Chikuhwa whose fairy-tale transformation from scoring just three goals last season to scoring 17 goals this season is worth celebrating.
Twenty two years have passed since a Highlanders player won the Soccer Star of the Year gong and there are some who will feel it was about time a member of the Bosso family took home the crown.
They should have won it in 2006 with Honour Gombami who was beaten to the gong, in controversial fashion, by Clemence Matawu.
But, there has already been controversy in the awards this year, especially the selection of five Simba Bhora players – the first time a club has provided such a big number of stars to the calendar.
That ZPC Kariba, the club which provided the league with its best defensive unit after conceding just 18 goals all season, did not get one of their defenders on the calendar, has torched controversy.