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Philani “Beefy” Ncube

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THREE Bulawayo City players have been shortlisted for the Southern Region Soccer League Soccer Star of the Year awards to be held tomorrow at the Liquor Hub.

The Premier Soccer League bound City players who made it into the promotional league’s top 11 are skipper Xolisani “Scara” Moyo, midfielder Innocent “Joker” Kutsanzira and striker Qinani “Chroma” Sibanda.

City’s gaffer Philani “Beefy” Ncube, who will be presented with a Coach of the Year award which has a $200 prize money, said they are reaping rewards for their hard work by contributing three players to the stars’ list.

“It was a tough season where every team gave their best and I’m happy that now we are being rewarded for being hard workers. It’s always good to have your work appreciated and I must say that these three players will be receiving their awards because they have been good team players,” said Ncube.

The Southern Region Soccer League’s Soccer Star of the Year will take home $300 with the runner-up getting $200 while the third best player will get $150.

City’s trio of Moyo, Kutsanzira and Sibanda will face stiff competition for the top accolade from Bulawayo Chiefs’ Ishmael Wadi, joint Top Goal Scorers Lenience “Qobho” Mpofu of Bantu Rovers and Technosphere’s Bekithemba Nyoni.

Mpofu and Nyoni will share the $200 Nokel Security sponsored Top Goal Scorer accolade after scoring 10 goals each.

Other players that have been shortlisted for the regional awards are Kelvin Nyoni of Technosphere, Nust’s Moodley Njeleza, Bantu Rovers, national Under-20 striker Bukhosi “Zakhu” Sibanda and the ZPC Hwange duo of Peter Gani and Garikai Siangoma.

The Zifa Southern Region chairman Musa Mandaza expressed his gratitude to their patron Raj Modi and Kenneth Mhlophe of Nokel Security who are bankrolling the awards.

“We’re happy with the contributions made to motivate footballers by Modi and Mhlophe. Modi through his Liquor Hub is bankrolling the stars and coach’s awards while Mhlophe, whose Nokel Security has been sponsoring the monthly Top Scorer’s accolade, is the benefactor for the overall Top Goal Scorer award. As a region we are grateful to these gentlemen and it is our hope that we will continue getting friends of football partnering the sport to make it exciting,” said Mandaza.

The monthly award that was being sponsored by Nokel Security had $150 prize money.

James Chivasa of Ntabazinduna won the first prize in April.

Chivasa then shared the May award with Lungile Nyathi of Amagagasi, Collen Tshuma Indlovu Iyanyathela and ZPC Kariba’s Admire Banda after scoring four goals each.

Bulawayo Chiefs’ Kundishora Chakanyuka landed the accolade after netting three goals in June.

Three players, Bekithemba Nyoni of Technosphere and Bantu Rovers’ duo of Lenience Mpofu and Bukhosi Sibanda shared the July award. The trio of Thabani Moyo (Bulawayo Chiefs), Alfred Mehlomakhulu (Indlovu Iyanyathela) and Nust’s Taluso Ndlovu shared the August accolade.
Manyando Zulu of Technosphere became the league’s 12th player to win the monthly award in September.

The winner of the October accolade will be announced at tomorrow’s awards ceremony.

2015 Soccer Stars of the Year: Ishmael Wadi (Bulawayo Chiefs), Xolisani Moyo, Innocent Kutsanzira, Qinani Sibanda (Bulawayo City), Bekithemba Nyoni, Kelvin Nyoni (Technosphere), Moodley Njeleza (Nust), Bukhosi Sibanda, Lenience Mpofu  (Bantu Rovers), Peter Gani, Garikai Siangoma (ZPC Hwange)

Top Goal Scorers (10 Goals): Lenience Mpofu (Bantu Rovers) and Bekithemba Nyoni (Technosphere)

Coach of the Year: Philani Ncube (Bulawayo City)