CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League Soccer Star of the Year Qadr Amini is swimming in dream land after adding another feather into his cap by winning the Ngezi Platinum Stars Player of the Year award yesterday.
The 33-year-old, who is also the captain of the platinum miners, played a key part in helping the Takesure Chiragwi boys to their maiden league championship this year.
With seven goals to his name, five of them from set-pieces and five assists, the former Gunners man’s contribution to the championship cause was very significant to the season’s outcome.
He was resultantly voted as the Soccer Star of the Year last week.
And yesterday, he was also honoured as the most outstanding player at the team’s glitzy annual awards held at Mulota Hills Golf Course in Ngezi.
Just like last week when he received the biggest individual award on land in Harare, Amini was escorted to the stage by his two wives.
“I would like to thank my loving mother for her outstanding role she has always played in my life.
“Special thanks also goes to my beautiful wives,” said Amini.
“Above all, I would like to thank Allah (God) for guiding me to these achievements.
“My teammates deserve special mention too because this is their award, it’s not mine alone. If it was mine alone then I should have been a tennis player. I wish to see most of them getting to the soccer stars calendar next year.
“The technical team, the board and the fans were so amazing throughout the journey”.
Defender Kudzai Chigwida who most football stakeholders felt should have made the Soccer Stars list after a stellar season won the club’s Players’ Player of the Year.
The former Triangle player scored four goals as he stood firm at the back and helped in forward forays for the champions.
His regular defence partner Gareth Madhake, who played the most games out of the Ngezi Platinum lot, having played 33 of the 34 league matches, took home the Find of the Season Award.
Madhake joined the miners at the start of this year from Black Rhinos where he won the Player of the Season accolade last season.
Another of the regular three-man defence which Chiragwi mostly deployed in his first full season in Mhondoro, Polite Moyo, scooped the Most Disciplined Player’s award.
Soccer Star finalists Nelson Chadya and Takunda Benhura also won big with the former taking home the Most Loyal Players accolade as well as the Long Service Award accolade which he shared with Marlon Mushonga and Malvin Kwinjo.
Benhura who was the league’s top goal scorer with 13 goals was also rewarded for those goals as well as winning the Rookie of the Year.
Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Emily Jesaya who was the guest of honour implored footballers to be focussed and shun societal ills.
“Well done to the winners and those who have not won should not despair as everyone here is a winner,” said Jesaya.
“Let’s focus on what we do and shun societal ills like drug abuse. We wish to see more teams honouring their outstanding performers”.
Ngezi Platinum Stars Awards
Most Disciplined Player – Polite Moyo
Most Loyal Player – Nelson Chadya
Most Improved Player – Leslie Kashitigu
Most Promising Player – Nisbert Muzenda
Rookie of the Year – Takunda Benhura
Top Goal Scorer – Takunda Benhura
Players’ Player – Kudzai Chigwida
Player of the Year – Qadr Amini
Find of the Season-Gareth Madhake
Long-Service Award – Nelson Chadya
Marlon Mushonga
Malvin Kwinjo
John Boromani
Under-19 Player of the Year – Tinashe Mashaireni
President’s Supporter of the Year -Talent Rice
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