Wenslus Murape
Bruce Chikuni,
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT’S party time for Aces Youth Soccer Academy after four of their graduates made the 2024 Castle Lager Premiership list of the best 11 players.
The quartet includes Yadah Stars’ Khama Billiat, Walter Musona of Simba Bhora, Dynamos’ Emmanuel Jalai, and Donovan Bernard from Chicken Inn.
It’s a milestone for AYSA, which was established by Swiss coach Marc Duvillard in 2001.
This list can extend to five if TelOne defender, Allan Chapanduka wins the league’s Most Promising Player as he is one of favourites to win the gong.
The trio of Billiat, Bernard, and Jalai are on this list for the first time.
But Musona is appearing for the third time and was also the first AYSA graduate to win the Castle Lager Premiership Soccer Star of The Year three seasons ago.
The league’s most valuable individual prize was won by Qadr Amini, another AYSA product last season.
And it means this Academy will complete a hat-trick should anyone from this quartet take it home.
Only Jalai has a slim chance of making the top three but Bernard, Billiat, and Musona are tipped to secure their slots on the best prize, first and second runner-up.
Bernard rescued his season from what had appeared to be a year to forget and turned it into his greatest season ever.
The 28-year-old was trolled for misjudging a cross while playing for the Warriors against Lesotho in the World Cup qualifiers in June. But, he gave his critics a deaf ear in his bid to find his stride and become the first ‘keeper in the domestic league to register 20 clean sheets in a season.
Jalai did not do much this season, but he was DeMbare’s better player something which also caught the eyes of Warriors coach, Micheal Nees.
Billiat returned home from South Africa where he had struggled with fitness and unclear circumstances.
But, he was a key figure in helping the Miracle Boys from avoid being swept away by relegation waters scoring 13 times.
Musona has been difficult to ignore since returning from Mzansi three seasons ago.
He was life to the party when Simba Bhora became the first team from Mashonaland Central province to win the championship.
In the past two seasons, the Soccer Star of The Year has been picked from the champions, and if that happens, he will make it two on his third appearance on the iconic calendar.
Bernard is now nearly guaranteed the Golden Glove since his closest rival, Nelson Chadya who was three clean sheets behind was overlooked on the best XI.
Interestingly, Bernard and Musona made their PSL debut at the same club Motor Action in 2013.
They will reunite on December 6 next week where they are likely going to be the biggest winners of the event.
Bernard hailed Chicken Inn coach, Joey Antipas and the team’s goalkeeper trainer, Energy Murambadoro for his rare feat.
“Coach Antipas has played a crucial role for me to be the person that I am today. He stood by me at my darkest moment when he could have completely shut the door.
“I also want to thank coach Murambadoro for being there for me on and off the field. He has helped me a lot psychologically and what more can you ask for when you have such a man as your coach?
“This one not out of my brilliance alone, my teammates made this feat possible because we played as a unit and this achievemeurs as a group,” said Bernard.
