Moses Chunga’s challenge

Lovemore Dube

FOOTBALL legend, Moses Chunga, on Friday challenged footballers to work hard and surpass his 46-goal haul of 1986.

No player has scored over 35 goals inclusive of cup goals in a season in the Zimbabwe Premiership since then.
Chunga scored 30 league goals in 26 matches and 16 cup in a season that he was crowned Soccer Star of the Year.

He was speaking at the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe Awards night at a Harare hotel on Friday.
Chunga was among the legends invited to the event who included Brenna Msiska, Raphael Phiri, Sunday Chidzambwa, Ali

“Baba” Dube and Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa.
“I challenge you to score 46 goals,” said Chunga soon after presenting Walter Musona with the FUZ Soccer Star of the Year gong.

Moses Chunga
Chunga speaking in front of his former teammate and coach Chidzambwa, narrated how hard they worked for glory.

“Do you know the Kopje Hill, we would run 10 laps around that place and one time, a teammate fainted,” said Chunga.
Musona was crowned FUZ Player of the Year with 10 other players deemed to have been top of the Zimbabwe game last season.

Donovan Bernard, Emmanuel Jalai, Goodknows Murwira, Brian Banda, Blessing Moyo, Mthokozisi Msebe, Kingsley Mureremba, Musona, Khama Billiat, Lynoth Chikuhwa and Tymon Machope were the other players chosen by players in the Premiership.

With Musona bagging the Player of the Year award, Bulawayo saw Donovan Bernard of Chicken Inn and Chikuhwa formerly with Highlanders whom he helped to a sixth place finish with his 17 goals, take the Golden Glove and Golden Boot award respectively to atone for yet another poor season by city clubs.

Arenel and Bulawayo Chiefs were relegated leaving the three Matabeleland provinces with just two clubs, Chicken Inn and Highlanders.

Both players will not be playing for the Bulawayo clubs with Chikuhwa already at Scottland while Bernard is wanted by several clubs in South Africa, among them Kruger United.

In the women’s category, Ethel Chinyengetere was crowned Woman Player of the Year with Felistus Muzongodi taking the Golden Boot.

The other finalists were Nobukhosi Ngwenya, Agnes Tumbare,Alice Moyo, Sheila Antonio, Daisy Kaitano, Shyleen Dambamuromo, Kudakwashe Basopo, Christabell Katona and Felistas Muzongopdi.

Immaculate Msipha and Marshall Munetsi were honoured with the Best International Players’ recognition.
Chidzambwa, the first Warriors captain, first coach to take Zimbabwe to the Afcon finals and Dynamos to the Africa Champions League final, winner of five titles as a coach and as captain and player, was awarded the FUZ Paul Gundani Award.

Marshall Munetsi
Gundani was the first of the players union leader, which was formed in 2003.
Zimpapers Sports Hub’s Steve Vickers was recognised for a sterling service to sport and sports journalism.

Also taking to the podium were former Highlanders junior coach, Dube, whose career began in 1973 and Lloyd Chigowe of Dynamos for their contribution to the junior development.

Dozens of players who played in the country’s elite league went through the hands of these two with the Ndlovu brothers, Adam, Madinda and Peter, among the most popular at Highlanders Dube coached.

Edwin Anderson of T and R Life promised FUZ and retired players sponsorship. He said he is impressed with the work being done by FUZ.