By Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
The best eleven footballers in the domestic league are set to be selected this Friday by a panel which includes journalists, coaches and captains from Premier Soccer League teams.
50 journalists, 18 captains from PSL clubs and their coaches will gather virtually to select the 11 best football players from the just ended season.
Apart from that, a rookie of the year and a coach of the year will also be voted for by the panel while the referee of the year will be chosen by the Referees Committee.
While the battle to be the best player will most likely be between FC Platinum’s Walter Musona and William Manondo of CAPS United, anxiety is ripe on who will join them.
The likes of Highlanders creative hub Devine Mhindirira and Dynamos defender Frank Makarati are likely to make it on the calendar after an outstanding season for the football giants.
This year looks like another year where goalkeepers will have a big say on the calendar, after shot stoppers made the headlines.
Nelson Chadya has the most shut-outs after keeping 19 clean sheets for Ngezi Platinum in 34 games, but he conceded another 19 goals giving him a clean sheet rate of 56%.
Donavan Bernard of Chicken Inn is next with 18 clean sheets from 31 matches, but he let in a massive 21 goals.
Dynamos’ Taimon Mvula prevented teams from scoring 16 times in the 29 matches that he played having let in 15 goals with 55% on the clean sheet ratio.
Wallace Magalane who has the least number of games after featuring in 21 matches for FC Platinum has the best ratio with 16 clean sheets after letting in just five goals giving him clean sheet percentage of 64%.
Statically, Magalane is way ahead of his fellow shot stoppers and it remains to be seen if he will get the golden glove award.
FC Platinum captain Gift Bhelo who marshaled the meanest defence in the league after the champions kept 22 clean sheets and let in just 14 goals is definitely a string candidate to make the calendar, so are his team mates Brian Banda and young Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya who had a breakthrough season.
Prince Chama of Herentals, Black Rhinos’ Gareth Madhake and Lennox Mucheto of Yadah are some players who had an outstanding season, so is Leslie Kashitigu of Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Jayden Barake of Whawha was a shining light in a dull season and might be fighting it out with Thando Ngwenya of FC Platinum for the rookie of the season.
However, 19-year-old Herentals goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi also has a big say after keeping 15 clean sheets and saving four penalties this season.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza is the favourite to win the coach of the year after winning the highest number of coach of the month awards with 5 over and above winning the league.
