Former Caps United striker and 1990 joint Soccer Star of the Year George Nechironga, a renowned old school bustling forward who tormented local defenders in the early 90s before crossing the border into South Africa, has tipped Makepekepe right back Hardlife Zvirekwi for the 2016 gong.

Although the former Bloemfontein Celtic striker believes standards have plummeted in the local top flight, Nechironga was impressed by Warriors star Zvirekwi.

Football journalists, coaches and club captains will select the 2016 Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year and the eleven finalists on November 29.

“I have attended a number of games in Harare, the level is not at all exciting because players are just playing to win and no longer care about perfecting their basic skills,” Nechironga, who was voted Zimbabwe’s joint best player with Peter Ndlovu 26 years ago, told SportsZone.

“One man stood above the rest was Hardlife Zvirekwi, the boy has played well. He is the only player worth mentioning in my opinion,” he said.

The 29-year-old has played an instrumental role for both club and country in the 2016 season and could lift the Castle Lager Premier Soccer title with Caps United at Ascot on Saturday if results go Makepekepe’s way.

Caps United lead the log with 60 points, two more than FC Platinum who play Tsholotsho FC at Luveve on Saturday.

A win for United against Chapungu will automatically seal their first league title in 11 years.

And Nechironga, who was voted Kick Off’s 28th best foreign player ever to play in South Africa last year, thinks Zvirekwi contributed immensely to Caps United’s remarkable run.

“Tsipa (Leonard) also did well. The FC Platinum captain Petros Mhari, the Dynamos duo of Elisha Muroiwa and Masimba Mambare also caught my eye.

“This youngster from Highlanders (Prince Dube) also did well but generally the standards have gone down. If football skill is not developed at a tender age, we won’t have polished footballers.

“I salute all the grassroots coaches who have gone unnoticed, special mention to Stanley Chirambadare, and Alois Bunjira. Nigel Munyati for his admin prowess and the rest who are in development structures.

“The players’ technical abilities leave a lot to be desired, tactically teams are naïve. This part has to be collectively addressed by a coaches forum.”

Nechironga, who is back in the country and is based in Harare’s high density suburb of Glen Norah, is convinced the race for the Coach of the Year should be among Caps United’s Lloyd Chitembwe, Norman Mapeza of FC Platinum and Highlanders’ Erol Akbay.

But he thinks Mapeza’s FC Platinum were the best both tactically and technically.