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Elvis Chipezeze

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Premier Soccer League has partially released the 2017 voting panellists’ choices for the Soccer Stars of the Year finalists, which show that Chicken Inn’s Elvis Chipezeze pipped Wallace Magalane of FC Platinum by a single vote for the Goalkeeper of the Year award.

According to the list, Chipezeze polled 29 votes, while Magalane got 28. Dynamos goalkeeper Tonderayi Mateyaunga got two votes from his skipper Ocean Mushure and Mutare-based reporter Kenneth Nyangani.

Thulani Siziba settled for FC Platinum’s Petros Mhari, according to the list on the PSL official website www.premierleague.co.zw. Mhari won the 2016 Goalkeeper of the Year following a stellar performance for Pure Platinum Play, but found stiff competition from Magalane this season.

For the Coach of the Year gong, Norman Mapeza picked up 38 votes, 18 more than Dynamos’ Lloyd Mutasa, while Shabanie Mine skipper William Mapfumo voted for Lloyd Chitembwe of Caps United.

Ngezi Platinum Stars’ captain Partson Jaure settled for his coach Tonderai Ndiraya, who himself voted for Mapeza. Chitembwe, the 2016 Coach of the Year, also voted for the FC Platinum mentor.

Mapeza became the first coach to wrestle the championship away from Harare and Bulawayo based gaffers.

The PSL said it will continue releasing the voting choices by the 60 panellists, who include coaches, captains and members of the media, with last batch of the 11 Soccer Stars of the Year finalists voting list set to be released on Friday.

The selection of the 11 finalists was marred by controversy after no goalkeeper was picked for the first time in the history of the process.

This was despite the fact that Chipezeze had kept an incredible 19 clean sheets.

@skhumoyo2000