Soccer Star of the Year

The Soccer Star of the Year is an annual association football award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best performer of the season in Zimbabwean football.

Typically 11 players are nominated as the Soccer Stars of the Year, this honour comes with a publication of a Calendar, sponsored by Castle Beer, in which the 11 appear. It is not a 'fantasy team' as such, and the 11 nominees could theoretically all be in the same position – though this of course is unlikely. From this XI, a Soccer Star of the Year is selected, with 2 Runners Up also being announced.

It was first presented at the end of the 1969 Rhodesian football season,[1] when it was founded as the Rhodesian Soccer Star of the Year; the name changed in 1980.[2] Each year's winner is chosen at the end of the season by a vote amongst football writers from around Zimbabwe.[3] The 2010 winner was Charles Sibanda, who won the award while playing for Motor Action.[4] He is the second Motor Action player to have received the award after 2006 winner Clemence Matawu.[5] Alexander R B was amazing in 2020 The first winner of the award was George Shaya, who played for Dynamos and won the award five times in all; in 1969, 1972 and three times in a row from 1975 to 1977. There are two other multiple-time winners: Peter Ndlovu of Highlanders won twice consecutively in 1990 and 1991, and Stanley Ndunduma won in 1981 and 1985, playing first for CAPS United and later for Black Rhinos. Malawian midfielder Joseph Kamwendo is the lone foreign player to have won the award, having done so in 2005 while playing for CAPS United.[5]

Winners

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Season Player Player's nation Club Notes
1969 George Shaya (1)   Rhodesia Dynamos
1970 Tendai Chieza (1)   Rhodesia Mangula
1971 Peter Nyama (1)   Rhodesia Chibuku Shumba
1972 George Shaya (2)   Rhodesia Dynamos
1973 Ernest Kamba (1)   Rhodesia Dynamos
1974 Moses Moyo (1)   Rhodesia Zimbabwe Saints
1975 George Shaya (3)   Rhodesia Dynamos
1976 George Shaya (4)   Rhodesia Dynamos
1977 George Shaya (5)   Rhodesia Dynamos
1978 George Rollo (1)   Rhodesia Arcadia United
1979 Shacky Tauro (1)   Zimbabwe Rhodesia CAPS United [n 1]
1980 David Mandigora (1)   Zimbabwe Dynamos [n 2]
1981 Stanley Ndunduma (1)   Zimbabwe CAPS United
1982 Japhet Mparutsa (1)   Zimbabwe Dynamos
1983 Ephert Lungu (1)   Zimbabwe Rio Tinto
1984 James Takavada (1)   Zimbabwe Zisco Steel
1985 Stanley Ndunduma (2)   Zimbabwe Black Rhinos
1986 Moses Chunga (1)   Zimbabwe Dynamos
1987 Mercedes Sibanda (1)   Zimbabwe Highlanders
1988 Ephraim Chawanda (1)   Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Saints
1989 Masimba Dinyero (1)   Zimbabwe Black Mambas
1990 Peter Ndlovu (1)   Zimbabwe Highlanders [n 3]
1990 George Nechironga (1)   Zimbabwe CAPS United [n 3]
1991 Peter Ndlovu (2)   Zimbabwe Highlanders
1992 Wilfred Mugeyi (1)   Zimbabwe Black Aces
1993 Agent Sawu (1)   Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Saints
1994 Memory Mucherahowa (1)   Zimbabwe Dynamos
1995 Tauya Murewa (1)   Zimbabwe Dynamos
1996 Stewart Murisa (1)   Zimbabwe CAPS United
1997 Walter Chuma (1)   Zimbabwe Wankie[n 4]
1998–99 [n 5]
2000 Zenzo Moyo (1)   Zimbabwe Highlanders
2001 Maxwell Dube (1)   Zimbabwe Chapungu United
2002 Dazzy Kapenya (1)   Zimbabwe Highlanders
2003 Energy Murambadoro (1)   Zimbabwe CAPS United
2004 Cephas Chimedza (1)   Zimbabwe CAPS United
2005 Joseph Kamwendo (1)   Malawi CAPS United [n 6]
2006 Clemence Matawu (1)   Zimbabwe Motor Action
2007 Murape Murape (1)   Zimbabwe Dynamos
2008 Evans Chikwaikwai (1)   Zimbabwe Njube Sundowns
2009 Ramson Zhuwawo (1)   Zimbabwe Gunners [6]
2010 Charles Sibanda (1)   Zimbabwe Motor Action [6]
2011 Washington Arubi (1)   Zimbabwe Dynamos [6]
2012 Denver Mukamba (1)   Zimbabwe Dynamos [6]
2013 Tawanda Muparati (1)   Zimbabwe Dynamos [6]
2014 Dennis Dauda (1)   Zimbabwe ZPC Kariba [6]
2015 Danny Phiri (1)   Zimbabwe Chicken Inn [6]
2016 Hardlife Zvirekwi (1)   Zimbabwe CAPS United [6]
2017 Rodwell Chinyengetere (1)   Zimbabwe F.C. Platinum [6]

Notes and references

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Notes
  1. ^ Rhodesia became black majority-ruled Zimbabwe Rhodesia on 1 June 1979. This government failed to achieve international recognition.
  2. ^ The internationally recognised country of Zimbabwe became independent on 18 April 1980.
  3. ^ a b Joint winners
  4. ^ Changed name to Hwange in 2005. Wankie had been the name of the town of Hwange until 1982, when numerous Zimbabwean place names were changed. Several sports teams named after towns or other geographical features, like Wankie F.C., retained their original names. Some renamed themselves at later dates but others, such as Shabanie Mine (from Zvishavane, Shabani until 1982) and FC Victoria (from Masvingo, formerly Fort Victoria) retain the old names to the present day.
  5. ^ No award; controversy during the selection process led to the abandonment of the presentation after the 1998–99 season.[5]
  6. ^ First foreign winner
References
  1. ^ Nkiwane 2011
  2. ^ Novak 2010
  3. ^ NewZimbabwe.com 2009
  4. ^ "Ngodzo breaks transfer record". The Zimbabwean. Harare. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Matongorere 2010
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Soccer Star of the Year archives". Nehanda Radio. 19 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
Sources