The curtain comes down on yet another exciting installment of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League today with the final two matches being played at Rufaro Stadium and Barbourfields Stadium.
It was a season in which Shamva-based side Simba Bhora etched their name in Zimbabwe football folklore after winning a maiden crown in only their second year in the top- flight league.
And yet again the traditional giants of local football Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United were blown away by a new breed of flamboyant teams.
Simba Bhora, last year's champions and winners of four of the last five campaigns occupied the top three positions.
With the league done and dusted, focus now shifts to the stars who lit up the stage and are expected to grace the soccer stars calendar.
It is only natural that debate is on which players steered the historic Simba Bhora campaign.
Former Soccer Star of the year Walter Musona was the X factor for the Tonderai Ndiraya- coached side as they wove their way to the title.
Musona is favourite to win the soccer star accolade after he scored 10 goals and created 13 going into the final round of matches.
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Teammate Tymon Machope has also been the shining light for the Shamva side in only his second season in the top flight football with 11 goals and 12 assists ahead of yesterday's match away at ZPC Kariba.
Other players who did well for Simba Bhora include Webster Tafa, who was a constant feature in the backline this season while Tichaona Chipunza, Vassili Kawe and Isheanesu Mauchi also shone for the champions.
Highlanders striker Lynoth Chikuhwa who is sure footed, and is set to win the golden boot is also a hot favorite to challenge for the soccer star gong.
Chikuhwa was easily the best player for an underwhelming Bosso who were sitting in sixth place ahead of their season's ending match against Yadah this afternoon.
The forward has already scored 16 goals in 33 matches and has surpassed last year's winner Takunda Benhura who managed 13.
One player who generated the most interest in the league this season was Khama Billiat who managed to revive his career after more than a decade in South Africa.
Billiat was a subject of intense bidding among the top local teams after it was announced that he would be joining Dynamos before Yadah FC and Ngezi Platinum Stars got into the picture.
And it was Yadah FC that managed to capture his signature.
The 34-year-old star was able to make immediate impact as for once, the Walter Magaya-owned side managed to survive relegation well before season ended.
After playing for Ajax Capetown, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, Billiat is a popular contender for the Soccer Star of the Year award.
Billiat is the second best top scorer in the league with 13 goals ahead of the season ending match against Highlanders today.
William Manondo who won the golden boot two years ago scored some important goals for CAPS United with 12 goals and is expected to feature on the soccer stars calendar.
As one of the traditional giants of local football, Dynamos are always expected to provide at least one player even though they went through a bad season.
Valentine Kadonzvo is one player who stood head and shoulders above the rest especially in the second half of the season while Emmanuel Jalai also had a good season.
One of the biggest surprises of the season was ZPC Kariba who were tipped for relegation, but managed to comfortably survive through their impenetrable defence.
ZPC Kariba boast the best defence in the current season and have conceded just 18 goals same as Manica Diamonds who occupied fourth place with one game remaining.
Captain Boid Mutukure was majestic for the team in the heart of defence and could be rewarded with a place among the soccer stars.
Takudzwa Chikosi of Herentals, Geoffrey Chitsumba (Manica Diamonds) and Kriss Mverechena (TelOne) had a good season between the sticks
The battle for the goalkeeper of the year award is an interesting one with Chicken Inn Donovan Bernard and Nelson Chadya of Ngezi Platinum Stars fighting for the honours.
Bernard led the clean sheets column with 19 and Chadya with 18 ahead of this weekend's matches.
However, Chadya managed to provide three assists in the season and saved two out of the three penalties he faced this season.
The Chicken Inn shot stopper managed one penalty save.
There are other players who failed to sustain the full season but played well in part and one such person is Chicken Inn's Michael Charamba.
Charamba started well and fizzled out in the second half of the season.
Highlanders' Never Rauzhi was among the top performers in the first half of the season when he was still in the Bulawayo Chief's book but a move to Bosso appears to have affected his performances.
MacKinnon Mushore also had a good season for Highlanders with Farai Banda doing well in defence for Manica Diamonds.
Some of the rookie players who played well include Prince Ndlovu (Highlanders) and TelOne defender Allan Chapanduka.
Kingsley Mureremba had a blinder of a season for CAPS United and could also make it on the soccer star calendar
