Zimbabwe Soccer Star of the Year

The Zimbabwe Soccer Star of the Year is an annual association football award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in Zimbabwean football. 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 current holder is Charles Sibanda of FC Platinum, who won the award in 2010 while playing for Motor Action.[4] He is the second Motor Action player to have received the award after 2006 winner Clemence Matawu.[5]

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

Season Player Player's nation Player's club Notes
1969 Shaya, GeorgeGeorge Shaya (1)  Rhodesia Dynamos
1970 Chieza, TendaiTendai Chieza (1)  Rhodesia Mangula
1971 Nyama, PeterPeter Nyama (1)  Rhodesia Chibuku Shumba
1972 Shaya, GeorgeGeorge Shaya (2)  Rhodesia Dynamos
1973 Kamba, ErnestErnest Kamba (1)  Rhodesia Dynamos
1974 Moyo, MosesMoses Moyo (1)  Rhodesia Zimbabwe Saints
1975 Shaya, GeorgeGeorge Shaya (3)  Rhodesia Dynamos
1976 Shaya, GeorgeGeorge Shaya (4)  Rhodesia Dynamos
1977 Shaya, GeorgeGeorge Shaya (5)  Rhodesia Dynamos
1978 Rollo, GeorgeGeorge Rollo (1)  Rhodesia Arcadia United
1979 Tauro, ShackyShacky Tauro (1)  Zimbabwe Rhodesia CAPS United [note 1]
1980 Mandigora, DavidDavid Mandigora (1)  Zimbabwe Dynamos [note 2]
1981 Ndunduma, StanleyStanley Ndunduma (1)  Zimbabwe CAPS United
1982 Mparutsa, JaphetJaphet Mparutsa (1)  Zimbabwe Dynamos
1983 Lungu, EphertEphert Lungu (1)  Zimbabwe Rio Tinto
1984 Takavada, JamesJames Takavada (1)  Zimbabwe Zisco Steel
1985 Ndunduma, StanleyStanley Ndunduma (2)  Zimbabwe Black Rhinos
1986 Chunga, MosesMoses Chunga (1)  Zimbabwe Dynamos
1987 Sibanda, MercedesMercedes Sibanda (1)  Zimbabwe Highlanders
1988 Chawanda, EphraimEphraim Chawanda (1)  Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Saints
1989 Dinyero, MasimbaMasimba Dinyero (1)  Zimbabwe Black Mambas
1990 Ndlovu, PeterPeter Ndlovu (1)  Zimbabwe Highlanders [note 3]
1990 George Nechironga (1)  Zimbabwe CAPS United [note 3]
1991 Ndlovu, PeterPeter Ndlovu (2)  Zimbabwe Highlanders
1992 Mugeyi, WilfredWilfred Mugeyi (1)  Zimbabwe Black Aces
1993 Sawu, AgentAgent Sawu (1)  Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Saints
1994 Mucherahowa, MemoryMemory Mucherahowa (1)  Zimbabwe Dynamos
1995 Murewa, TauyaTauya Murewa (1)  Zimbabwe Dynamos
1996 Murisa, StewartStewart Murisa (1)  Zimbabwe CAPS United
1997 Chuma, WalterWalter Chuma (1)  Zimbabwe Wankie[note 4]
1998–99 – – – [note 5]
2000 Moyo, ZenzoZenzo Moyo (1)  Zimbabwe Highlanders
2001 Dube, MaxwellMaxwell Dube (1)  Zimbabwe Chapungu United
2002 Kapenya, DazzyDazzy Kapenya (1)  Zimbabwe Highlanders
2003 Murambadoro, EnergyEnergy Murambadoro (1)  Zimbabwe CAPS United
2004 Chimedza, CephasCephas Chimedza (1)  Zimbabwe CAPS United
2005 Kamwendo, JosephJoseph Kamwendo (1)  Malawi CAPS United [note 6]
2006 Matawu, ClemenceClemence Matawu (1)  Zimbabwe Motor Action
2007 Murape, MurapeMurape Murape (1)  Zimbabwe Dynamos
2008 Chikwaikwai, EvansEvans Chikwaikwai (1)  Zimbabwe Njube Sundowns
2009 Zhuwawo, RamsonRamson Zhuwawo (1)  Zimbabwe Gunners
2010 Sibanda, CharlesCharles Sibanda (1)  Zimbabwe Motor Action

Notes and references

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.[6]
  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. http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/sport/football/37905/ngodzo-breaks-transfer-record.html. Retrieved 30 October 2011. 
  5. ^ a b Matongorere 2010
  6. ^ Matongorere 2010
Sources
National Footballer of the Year award (CAF)
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