Wenslus Murape
Langton Nyakwenda
REGARDED by many as one of the finest wingers ever produced in Zimbabwe, Stanley “Sinyo” Ndunduma would have been 62 this year, had he not perished in an accident in Swaziland, now Eswatini, 20 years ago.
At 20, Ndunduma won his first Soccer Star of the Year award with CAPS United in 1981.
He repeated the feat in 1985 with Black Rhinos, becoming the first player to win the top gong with two different clubs since 1969, when the Soccer Star of the Year award was introduced.
“Sinyo was a brilliant player, he was out of this world,” Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, Ndunduma’s teammate at both CAPS United and Black Rhinos, recalls.
“He combined speed, skill and dribbling to devastating effect. He was also a good crosser of the ball. Ndunduma would also chip in with crucial goals.
“I would say he was one of the greatest players to emerge from this land.”
Up until Friday night, Ndunduma was the only player to win the Soccer Star of the Year award with two different clubs.
This was until Walter Musona joined him in this special class when he was crowned the 2024 Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year at a glittering event in the capital on Friday night.
The Simba Bhora captain was rewarded for leading the Shamva side to their maiden league championship.
Walter achieved the same feat with FC Platinum, when they won their fourth consecutive title in 2022. And in his finest hour, the Norton-bred star remembered how his career almost went down the drain until coach Norman Mapeza came to the rescue.
Mapeza also catapulted Walter’s brother, Knowledge, to national prominence.
Coach Mapeza now occupies a special place in Walter’s heart.
Of course, Walter has for long lived in the shadow of Knowledge, but the Simba Bhora skipper must have now proved he is his own man.
“Being a younger brother of Knowledge was an advantage because he played a big role in my career,” Walter told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“Yes, I was inspired by him, I would watch him play at the Aces Academy. I was very lucky to be close to him.”
Walter had some close competition from Highlanders’ gunman Lynoth Chikuhwa, who scooped the Golden Boot award after banging 17 goals for Amahlolanyama.
Yadah FC talisman Khama Billiat also had a decent chance, but in the end it was Walter who lifted the Soccer Star of the Year award in front of Zimbabwean football’s who is who.
Chikuhwa was the first runner-up, while Billiat came third in a tight race for the best player in the local Premiership.
At least Billiat got some consolation as he was the Fans’ Player of the Year.
But the night belonged to Walter.
The former Polokwane City forward at one time thought his career was over due to a nagging injury.
After winning the Soccer Star of the Year for the second time on Friday, Walter revealed he had to be his own man to survive in this game.
“I think, as Walter, what I did right was I didn’t want to ride on him (Knowledge). We are two different people,” he said.
“I started playing my own game, using my own strengths, because if I tried to copy him, I would not have reached this stage. We have different skills.”
The 28-year-old Walter began his professional career at Motor Action in 2013, after graduating from the famed Aces Academy.
He then went to FC Platinum, before a brief and forgettable stint at Slovak club FC Senica.
Walter also played for Polokwane City and Sekhukhune in South Africa before retracing his roots to FC Platinum in 2022.
He recalled how an injury troubled him and made his stay in South Africa unbearable.
He was injured during a Warriors camp when he was on the books of Polokwane City.
“When you are in foreign land, they expect you to work extra hard, especially those whom you are competing with for the position,” he said.
“I got injured in camp when the Warriors were preparing for the 2019 AFCON finals. The Warriors used the COSAFA Cup as friendly matches. It was four to five months with that injury.
“When I got back, the team had pressure, so for them to use a player who was coming from injury was difficult.
“My contract was also about to come to an end. Polokwane City was relegated, and I had one year left on contract, and the owner wanted to cut the salary by half.
“I moved to Sekhukhune, who had been promoted, but I got injured again. I tried to look for clubs, but I didn’t get a team.”
Walter came back to Zimbabwe in 2021 and found a fatherly figure in Mapeza.
“I don’t know what was happening, but coach Mapeza was helpful,” he said.
“I came back to Zimbabwe in September 2021 when FC Platinum were playing Chibuku Super Cup, so I just trained with the other guys until December, before signing in January 2022.
“It was not easy to pick up form because I had not played competitively for some time. But thanks to Mapeza, I managed.
“I want to thank Mapeza today for accommodating me when all looked gloomy. He told me: ‘Walter, this happens in football’, and he encouraged me to work hard and pick myself up. Those words still ring in my mind,” he added.
Walter went on to win the 2022 Soccer Star of the Year award before joining Simba Bhora at the beginning of 2023.
On Friday, he won another gong, joining the legendary George Shaya, Ndunduma, Peter Ndlovu and Rodwell Chinyengetere as the only players to have won the award on at least two occasions.
The late Shaya, who is regarded as the greatest player to come out of Zimbabwe, won it a record five times with Dynamos in 1969, 1972, 1975, 1976 and 1977.
Ndunduma won it with two different clubs — CAPS United in 1981 and Black Rhinos in 1985. Ndlovu was the Soccer Star of the Year with Highlanders in 1990 and 1991.
Chinyengetere won the gong with FC Platinum in 2017 and 2018.
Online Reporter
