By Sheldon Hakata and Colombus Mushore

Many eagerly wait to hear who will land football’s biggest individual accolade the Soccer Star of the Year and two characters have been named, by the public, as firm favourites to land the title.
Silas Songani of Harare City and Hardlife Zvirekwi of CAPS United had a dream season and according to ‘pundits’ one of them is tipped to walk away the top dog in local football, never mind the other contestants, they seem to say.
But who are these two characters?
Silas Songani affectionately known in soccer circles as ‘’Siloniggaz’’ because of his dark complexion was born on the June 28 1989 at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare.
The player mostly known for his dribbling skills, fast pace and passing accuracy, grew up in Dzivarasekwa as the only boy in a family of three children.
He did his primary and secondary education in the same neighbourhood.
Songani started playing football at the tender age of nine, having been inspired by his uncle Adam Songani who used to play football.
With a lot of practice and mentoring by his uncle, Songani joined the Dzivarasekwa Soccer Academy headed by coach Govero and later moved to Aces Academy under Bla Ribe and Eki where he played for more than ten years.
When his father died, he thought he would never become a professional player as his father was the major provider and supporter.
Fortunately his uncle continued to support him and buying football kit such as boots to advance his career.
Experience acquired while playing for Aces Academy for more than ten years gave Songani exposure that saw him landing a place in Division One club Dstv Football Club in 2010.
He turned out for the club for a year and then moved to another Division One outfit La Liga Football Club.
His fortunes transformed when La-Liga Football Club played against Harare City and he caught the eye of City’s coach Bigboy Mawiwi and the young soccer prodigy was lured to join the Sunshine City Boys in 2012.
His favourite players include fellow club member Nathan Ziwini and Portuguese international Christiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and is also a staunch Liverpool Football Club fan .
And the player says his secret to avoiding injuries is never keeping the ball for too long.
His most memorable match was when Harare City thumped Highlanders 4-0 at Rufaro Stadium in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League game. He scored and contributed to the other three.
His tremendous skills during the season saw him getting the attention of the national team coach Ian’’Dibango’’Gorowa who included him in the Warriors starting line-up in a friendly match against Mozambique last week.
Away from the game, Songani is kept busy by his lovely wife Fungai Murura and baby girl aged three. When it comes to food the player enjoys sadza and maguru but prefers rice and chicken before a game.
He is a devout Muslim and values honesty and kindness.
The other player gunning for the top accolade Hardlife Daniel Zvirekwi better known as ‘’Nairobi or Passport’’ by his soccer fans was born on May 5 in 1987 at Chikomba Clinic in Sadza.
He is the first born in a family of five which comprise two boys and three girls.
The versatile player comfortable playing various positions attended Gwinyai Primary School in Mbare, Lord Malvern High School from Form 1-3 and Mt Pleasant for Form Four up to A Level.
He grew up in the high density surburb of Mbare and began the journey into the world of soccer playing plastic balls in the streets, most times from morning till dusk and even then he was reluctant to leave the ‘pitch’.
Zvirekwi is married to Sarudzai Maromo and the couple are Christians and attend the Kairos Community Church headed by Pastor Jonas whom he gives credit for his success and keeping him ‘grounded’.
The footballer remembers trying to convince his mother that he was a good soccer player, it was only after the intervention of his headmaster at Gwinyai that his mother accepted that he had a future in football.
His role model growing up was the prolific former Dynamos and national team superstar Moses ‘Bambo’ Chunga.
His favourite team locally is CAPS United and also supports Manchester United.
Among local players his favourites are Cliff Sekete and Ali Sadiki while Neymar and Messi abroad complete his list.
He attributes his success to hardwork and dedication to his craft.
The defender who is comfortable playing from any position netted seven goals in the past season.
Goals he scored and ranks best include the ones against Tripple B one from a corner kick and another from a poorly cleared ball which met the ferocity of his foot before it touched the ground and hit the roof of the net.
His career began when he was spotted by Agathar Sheneti Soccer Academy in 1997 when he was in Grade 5 at Gwinyai Primary School.
He played for the academy graduating into the senior team in 2007.
In the senior team he played alongside the likes of Benjamin Marere, Ali Sadiki, Edward ‘Duduza’Sadomba and was coached by Mike Madzivanyika.
In 2008 the academy was disbanded and Zvirekwi joined Gunners Football Club where he played and during the mid-season of 2012 he joined CAPS United.
Zvirekwi commends the Green Machine for improving his game.
When not playing football or training, Hardlife likes listening to rhumba, gospel, R’n’B and reggae music as well as watching movies.
The player who loves sadza and beef stew hopes to one day ply his trade in Spain.