Can Ndoro nick it?

Sport
IF the 2013 Castle Lager soccer star of the year selection conducted on November23 is the yardstick for the honours Tendai Ndoro is likely to rule the roost

IF the 2013 Castle Lager soccer star of the year selection conducted on November 23 is the yardstick for the honours, Tendai Ndoro is likely to rule the roost after the top goalscorer obtained the highest number of votes in last month’s selection night. FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER

Tonight is the night when the soccer star of the year and his runners-up will be announced at a banquet in Harare.

Ndoro, who has since joined South African side Mpumalanga Black Aces, banged in 18 goals in his second season with Chicken Inn and polled 47 votes from the 49 panelists that gathered on the capital in November.

Only two people did not vote for him.

The lanky striker is tipped to walk away with the top prize of $5 000 and $3 000 for the golden boot award. It will be the first time that Ndoro appears on the soccer stars calendar and so will Harare City’s Silas Songani who garnered 45 votes in the selection and is likely to be named one of the runner-ups.

Dynamos skipper Tawanda Muparati, who was among the 11 finalists last year, is tipped to be a runner-up after he polled 46 votes in the selection and becomes the second player after Chicken Inn’s Kudakwashe Mahachi to retain their places in the calendar.

The first runner-up will walk away with $3 000 and second will take home $2 000 while the other eight players will get $1 000 each.

Highlanders goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya is likely to walk away with the $2 000 for goalkeeper of the year award after he grabbed 39 votes among the 11 finalist while George Chigova, who also made it to the calendar, got 24.

Mahachi, voted last season’s most promising player, picked up 43 votes with Hwange left-back Erick Chipeta, who joined the coal miners last season from Northern Region Division One side DStv Rangers, polling 42.

Ronald Pfumbidzai of Caps United and Aces Academy’s Motor Action goalkeeper Donovan Benard will fight it out for this season’s most promising player award which carries a prize of $2 000.

Despite failing to win the league on the last day after a 2-2 draw with Caps United, Harare City gaffer Bigboy Mawiwi could be on his way to winning the coach of the year award and taking away $2 000, but having challenge from last year’s winner Dynamos’ Kalisto Pasuwa and BancABC Sup8r winner Luke Masomere.

The most disciplined team will add $10 000 to its coffers while there will also be awards for referee of the year, his first and second runners-up.

The 11 finalists Munyaradzi Diya (Highlanders), George Chigova, Tawanda Muparati, Gift Bello (Dynamos), Tendai Ndoro, Kudakwashe Mahachi (Chicken Inn), Silas Songani (Harare City), Menard Mupera (How Mine), Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United), Charles Sibanda (FC Platinum), Erick Chipeta (Hwange)

Votes received by each player for the top 11 Tendai Ndoro (Chicken Inn) — 47 votes Tawanda Muparati (Dynamos) – 46, Silas Songani (Harare City) – 45, Kudakwashe Mahachi (Chicken Inn) — 43, Erick Chipeta (Hwange) — 42 Munyaradzi Diya (Highlanders) – 39, Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United) — 38 votes, Mernard Mupera (How Mine) — 30, George Chigova (Dynamos) — 24, Gift Bello (Dynamos) — 20, Charles Sibanda (FC Platinum) — 17

After the first voting session, the 49 selectors then chose the top three in order of their preference and the result of that session will be known tonight. The 49 selectors:

The Sunday Mail — Ishemunyoro Chingwere, Langton Nyakwenda, Fatima Bulla, Tendai Chara; The Herald — Grace Chingoma; The Chronicle — Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Tobias Mandoreba, Paul Mundandi, Ricky Zililo; The Sunday News — Mehluli Sibanda; Manica Post — Ray Bande; Umthunywa — Nkosilathi Sibanda; H-Metro — Mugove Chigada, Chipo Sabeta; Star FM — Howard Musonza, Yvonne Mangunda, Spencer Banda; B-Metro — Fungai Muderere; NewsDay — Henry Mhara, Daniel Nhakaniso, Tawanda Tafirenyika; Daily News — Godknows Matarutse, Sakheleni Nxumalo, Farai Machamire, Nigel Matongorere, ZBC – Merit Munzwembiri; Gemazo – Tatenda Makanda; Outpost – Jere Chikambure, The Patriot – Alvin Madzivanzira; Southern Eye — Fortune Mbele, Sukoluhle Mthethwa; The Standard — Albert Marufu; Zi FM — Alois Bunjira; Black Rhinos — Arthur Tutani; Buffaloes — Timothy Masachi; Caps United — Brenna Msiska; Chicken Inn — Julius Ndlovu; Dynamos — Philimon Mutyakureva; FC Platinum — Lloyd Mutasa; Harare City — Bigboy Mawiwi; How Mine — Philani Ncube; Highlanders — Tembo Chuma; Hwange — Mebelo Njekwa; Monomotapa — Biggie Zuze; Shabanie Mine — Luke Masomere; Triangle — Gishon Ntini; Tripple B — Peter Manoti; FUZ — Desmond Maringwa, Paul Gundani.