Dynamos star midfielder Denver Mukamba was crowned the Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year this past Friday evening. The first runner up was Masimba Mambare from Highlanders while Ronald Chitiyo from Monomotapa was the second runner up.
Mukamba walked away with a trophy and US$5 000 while Mambare got US$3 000 and Chitiyo US$2 000. The Soccer Stars of the Year selection was conducted by a panel comprising largely a cross section of the local sports journalists, coaches and a representative from the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe.
At 19, Mukamba joins a clique of few players who won the crown as teenagers. Legendary forward Peter Ndlovu won it when he was only 17 back in 1990 when he took the top-flight by storm in his debut season as a high schoolboy from Mzilikazi.
Malawian international Joseph Kamwendo, who remains the only expatriate to win the Soccer Star award, had just turned 19 when he scooped the award in 2005.
2012 Soccer Star of the Year Winners
Soccer Star of the Year (US$5 000) — Denver Mukamba (Dynamos)
First Runner-up (US$3 000) — Masimba Mambare (Highlanaders)
Second Runner-up (US$2 000) — Ronald Chitiyo (Monomotapa)
Goalkeeper of the Year (US$2 000) — Ariel Sibanda (Highlanders)
Most Promising U-20 (US$2 000) — Kuda Mahachi (Chicken Inn)
Top Goal Scorer (US$3 000) — Nelson Maziwisa (Shabanie Mine)
Coach of the Year (US$3 500) — Callisto Pasuwa
Most Disciplined Team (US$10 000) — Monomotapa
Referee of the Year (US$2 000) — Ruzive Ruzive
First Runner-up (US$1 500) — Thomas Kusosa
Second Runner-up (US$1 000) — Brighton Nyika
2012 Soccer Star XI finalists:
Ariel Sibanda, Innocent Mapuranga, Masimba Mambare, Mthulisi Maphosa (All Highlanders), Felix Chindungwe, Kudakwashe Mahachi (Both Chicken Inn), Denver Mukamba, Partson Jaure (Both Dynamos), Ronald Chitiyo (Monomotapa), Rodwell Chinyengetere (Hwange), Nelson Maziwisa (Shabanie Mine).
