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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League 2014 surprise packages ZPC (Kariba) look set to continue with their dream debut season by providing the highest number of players on the Soccer Star of the Year finalists’ list while Dynamos’ young defender Blessing Moyo can make a small piece of history for himself by clinching two awards.

ZPC (Kariba) can provide as many as four players on the calendar when the 62 panelists meet in Harare this morning.

The power generators can also crown a memorable season and indeed weekend by clinching the coveted league title tomorrow afternoon at Gwanzura Stadium if they beat Caps United outright. Their coach Saul “Willy Fox” Chaminuka is odds-on favourite to be named the Coach of the Year during the banquet next month.

However, focus this morning will be on coming up with the 11 best players of the season. The panelists will also choose the Soccer Star of the Year, the Coach of the Year as well as the Rookie of the Year who will nevertheless only be revealed during next month’s banquet.

The 62 panelists are made up of 16 Premiership coaches and their captains as well as 30 sports journalists from various media houses in the country.

The voting process will this year move along with technology by using a secret computerised electronic ballot.

Voting will be by way of a secret computerised electronic ballot. The voting system will be supervised by a panel of experts that will include media houses editors as well as Delta Beverages internal and external auditors.

The selection rules will see any player who accumulated six (6) yellow cards or more during the course of the season up to selection time not eligible for the awards and being disqualified.

The same will apply to a player who accumulated two or more red cards during the course of the season up to selection time while any player who is summoned and found guilty by the PSL disciplinary committee or courts of law during the season is also not eligible.

Last year there was controversy on the number of games that qualified a player to be eligible for selection with a minimum of 10 games enough for a player to be eligible for selection.

The goalkeeper of the year was also selected on an unclear formula after the PSL and sponsors chose to use the more complex Spain system known as the Zamora award.

The formula saw one Herbert Rusawo of Black Rhinos winning the award.

Dynamos’ young defender Blessing Moyo, who shone like a beacon in the Glamour Boys’ defence, while almost certain to clinch the Rookie of the Year Award, might also bag the big one, come announcement time next month.

His teammates Stephen Alimenda and Themba Ndlovu are also favourites to be among the 11 finalists while ZPC Kariba’s Pride Tafirenyika, Dennis Dauda, Tendai Hove and ageless Limited Chikafa will not be surprise packages on the calendar.

Chikafa looks the odds-on favourite after his starring role for the club in its maiden season in which he has scored nine goals some of them matchwinners. This is remarkable given his heart problem which almost cost him his career.

Bulawayo giants Highlanders, whose season crumbled like a deck of cards in the second half, might have something to smile about as Charles Sibanda, Felix Chindungwe and goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda had a decent season despite the overall disaster at their club.

Young Bantu Rovers defender Teenage Hadebe who capped a forgettable season with a hearty performance for the Warriors against Morocco last Sunday during an international friendly, is another player that the selectors might find hard to ignore, so is his teammate and skipper Nqobizitha Masuku.

How Mine’s Kuda Musharu looks a certainty on the calendar and is still in with a chance to land the Golden Boot award. He is level with Bosso’s Charles Sibanda on 12 goals.

Other players likely to be selected include Buffaloes’ Tafadzwa Mombeshora, Caps United’s Dominic Chungwa, Chicken Inn’s Lawrence Mhlanga, Clemence Matawu and Bhekimpilo Ncube, Hwange’s David Boriwondo, Aleck Marime, Farai Vimisai, FC Platinum’s Thabani Kamusoko and Walter Musona.

Castle Soccer Stars voting Panel

Coaches: Jostein Mathuthu ( Black Rhinos), Mandla Mpofu (Bantu Rovers), Moses Chunga (Buffaloes), Taurai Mangwiro (Caps United), John Nyikadzino (Chapungu), Joey Antipas ( Chicken Inn), Gishon Ntini (Chiredzi), Callisto Pasuwa (Dynamos), Norman Mapeza ( FC Platinum), Masimba Dinyero (Harare City), Mark Mathe (Highlanders), Nation Dube (Hwange), Biggy Zuze (Triangle United), Saul Chaminuka (ZPC Kariba), Luke Masomere ( How Mine), Jairos Tapera (Shabanie Mine)

Captains: Shadreck Jimu (Black Rhinos), Nqobizitha Masuku (Bantu Rovers), Prosper Matizanadzo (Buffaloes), Tapiwa Khumbuyani (Caps United), Collen Kwaramba (Chapungu), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), David Maketo Sengu (Chiredzi), Murape Murape (Dynamos), Daniel Vheremu (FC Platinum), David Kutyauripo (Harare City), Arial Sibanda (Highlanders), Mernard Mupera (How Mine), Gerald Ndlovu (Hwange), Rodney Mware (Shabanie Mine),William Mapfumo (Triangle United), Tendai Hove (ZPC Kariba)

Media: Alvin Madzivanzira (The Patriot), Alois Bunjira (Zifm Stereo), Ian Zvoma (ZBC), Merit Munzwembiri ( ZBC), Collen Nikisi ( ZBC), Howard Musonza (Star FM), Muziwethu Hadebe (Star FM), Henry Mhara (Newsday), Tawanda Tafirenyika (Newsday), Fortune Mbele (Southern Eye), Tatenda Makanda(Gemazo), Sukoluhle Mtetwa (Southern Eye), Grace Chingoma (Herald), Augustine Hwata (Herald), Eddie Chikamhi (Herald), Blessing Mashaya (Daily News), Godknows Mataruse (Daily News), Mehluli Sibanda (Sunday News), Ngqwele Dube (Sunday News), Fungai Muderere (B-Metro), Chipo Sabeta (H-Metro), Mugove Chigada (H-Metro), Ricky Zililo (Chronicle), Sikhumbuzo Moyo (Chronicle), Ray Bande (Manica Post), Ishemunyoro Chingwere (Sunday Mail), Langton Nyakwenda (Sunday Mail), Brian Nikiwane (Standard), Don Makanyanga (Zimbabwe Mail), Grace Chirumhanzu (Zimbabwe Mail).