AS the countdown to the soccer stars selection set for 19 November begins, the 19 panellists have turned down a proposal to select the referee of the year using a points system.

The Sports Writers' Association of Zimbabwe (SWAZ) management committee had proposed the new format at a meeting in Kwekwe last weekend, which was thrown out with writers arguing the move would usurp their very authority in the whole process.

Stanley Gama, SWAZ chairman, said the management committee felt the top referee should be chosen using a points system provided by the Zimbabwe Soccer Referees' Association, following problems that had rocked the selection in previous years.

Last year, for instance, some panellists boycotted the award selection, arguing not a single referee deserved to be honoured for the year under review.

The SWAZ executive had also put a proposal that football coaches, through a voting system, would choose the Coach-of-the-Year, which was also turned down.

The writers argued they have the right to choose the referee and coach of the year, the same way they are mandated to pick the top 11 soccer stars of the season.

Gama said the panellists, drawn from the print and electronic media, had been whittled down from 27 to 19 to improve on the selection process.

"We faced problems last year when we had so many journalists doing the selection. Njabulo Ncube could have been the second runner-up, but he lost a vote because one of the panellists wrote a wrong surname. We had to reject the vote. That is one of the reasons why we decided to trim the number of panellists so that we put in journalists who would have covered at least eight league matches," Gama said.

The meeting also agreed players with more than seven yellow cards cannot be considered for local football's most coveted individual awards. Players with three or more red cards also find themselves on the sidelines.

Players who have been convicted by a court of law, Premier Soccer League and Zifa disciplinary committees, are also not eligible for selection. This rule also applies to the referee and coach of the year.

The selection of the Soccer Star of the Year finalists is set to be "unusual" as some clubs such as Dynamos and AmaZulu, whose players have always made the popular wall-calendar, are unlikely to have a single player chosen.

However, some small clubs such as Buymore and Chapungu look likely to weigh in with some players. Buymore's James Matola and More Moyo, and Chapungu's Philip Marufu are likely to make the grade.

Masvingo's Wonder Sithole and Simbarashe Gate could make it. Highlanders could provide the bulk of the players with the likes of Tapuwa Kapini, Chipo Tsodzo and Honour Gombami getting votes.

From Caps be provide Joseph Kamwendo, Ashley Rambanapasi and Laughter Chilembe. Lancashire Steel might also provide Justice Majabvi while Hwange's Obert Moyo, and Motor Action's Salim Milanzi, Edward Tembo and Clement Matawu are likely to chosen.