HARARE – Premier Soccer League sponsors Delta Beverages on Wednesday unveiled the 11 finalists for Soccer Star of the Year following voting conducted electronically for the first time.
Premier League leaders CAPS United and a resurgent Highlanders contributed two players each.
The Highlanders pair of red-hot striker Prince Dube and shot stopper Ariel Sibanda, who has kept 16 clean sheets in 32 league matches this season, made it to the final 11.
CAPS United will be represented by midfielder Joel Ngodzo and winger Phineas Bamusi.
Defending Premier League champions FC Platinum contributed midfielder Never Tigere and former Chicken Inn striker Clive Augusto made the cut despite leaving in August to join South African side Maritzburg United in August.
Augusto still leads the race for the Golden Boot with 14 goals after an impressive start to the season.
For the first time ever, selectors were not in the same room but voted electronically. Auditors from Delta Beverages, who sponsor the league through their Castle Lager brand, then tallied the votes.
Taking part in the voting process were the 18 coaches, 18 captains and 41 sports journalists from around the country.
The overall Soccer Star of the Year and his two runners up will be unveiled at a banquet in Harare early next month, along with the Coach of the Year and Referee of the Year.
2019 Soccer Star of the Year Finalists
Ariel Thulani Sibanda (Highlanders)
Clive Farai Augusto (Chicken Inn)
Evans Katema (Dynamos)
Ian Samuel Nekati (ZPC Kariba)
Joel Welcome Ngodzo (CAPS United)
King Nadolo (TelOne)
Never Tigere (FC Platinum)
Phineas Bamusi (CAPS United)
Prince Mpumelelo Dube (Highlanders)
Ralph Makanyara Kawondera (Triangle)
Wellington Taderera (Black Rhinos)
