Former Zimbabwe Warriors forward Alois Bunjira has launched a blistering attack on Scottish Premiership side Motherwell FC after red-hot striker Tawanda Maswanhise was overlooked for the club’s biggest individual honour despite producing a sensational season in front of goal.
By Advent Shoko
The explosive remarks have ignited fierce debate among Zimbabwean football fans after Maswanhise, who scored 22 goals this season, missed out on Motherwell’s Player of the Year award.
Instead, the club handed the top accolade to New Zealand international Elijah Just, while Maswanhise settled for the Young Player of the Year and Top Goalscorer awards.
For many supporters, that simply was not enough.
Within moments of the awards announcement, football discussions across Zimbabwe erupted. Fans flooded Facebook pages, WhatsApp groups and football forums questioning how a player who consistently delivered goals, match-winning moments and attacking inspiration throughout the campaign could miss out on the club’s top prize.
And nobody expressed that frustration more fiercely than Bunjira.
“That Was A Blatant Robbery”
Bunjira, one of Zimbabwe’s most outspoken former footballers, did not hold back as he accused Motherwell of denying Maswanhise the recognition he deserved after what many fans consider a career-defining season.
The former Warriors star revealed he had emotionally invested himself in Motherwell’s journey simply because of the Zimbabwean striker’s presence at the club. He said:
“When Tawanda Maswanhise moved to Motherwell FC in Scotland, I moved with him wholeheartedly. I followed the team. I supported the team. But after a stellar season with the club, I was heartbroken when this very club decided to ROB him of the Player of The Season Award.
That was a blatant robbery. That Young Player of the Year Award that they used to rob him of the top gong then seemed irrelevant.
He was supposed to get it along with the top gong. Young Player of the Year, Top Goal scorer, Player of the Year… Hattrick. He deserved it all. That is how it was supposed to be. Fairly.”
But Bunjira’s frustration did not end there.
In comments likely to stir even more controversy, the former forward hinted at possible discrimination within the decision-making process, stopping just short of directly accusing the club of racism. The former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder said:
“I was tempted to use the R word, but I will not be dragged into that R narrative. But they know it at Motherwell that they acted R.
For that, I am humbly moving away from Motherwell. I hope Tawanda also moves away from this club for next season. What was that?”
A Season That Turned Heads In Scotland
Maswanhise’s rise this season has been impossible to ignore.
The Zimbabwean forward became one of Motherwell’s most dangerous attacking weapons, combining pace, intelligence, relentless pressing and clinical finishing to torment defenders week after week.
Whether it was poaching goals inside the box, punishing defensive mistakes or stepping up in pressure moments, the young striker repeatedly delivered when Motherwell needed inspiration.
His 22-goal haul did not just make him the club’s top scorer, it transformed him into one of the most talked-about young Zimbabwean footballers playing abroad.
In several matches this season, Maswanhise carried the attacking burden almost single-handedly, rescuing points, energising supporters and helping Motherwell remain competitive during difficult stretches of the campaign.
That is precisely why many supporters believed the Player of the Year award was already his.
Instead, the final announcement left sections of the fanbase stunned.
Motherwell’s Awards Breakdown
Motherwell celebrated several standout performers during their end-of-season awards ceremony.
Elliot Watt picked up the Coaches’ Player of the Year award after impressing in midfield throughout the campaign.
Elijah Just completed a memorable evening after winning both the Players’ Player of the Year and overall Player of the Year awards.
Maswanhise, meanwhile, received recognition for his incredible scoring exploits and breakthrough performances after claiming:
- Top Goalscorer Award
- Young Player of the Year Award
The remaining honours saw Emmanuel Longelo win Goal of the Season, while Zander McAllister was named Academy Player of the Year.
Zimbabwean Fans Rally Behind Their Star
For many Zimbabwean football supporters, the controversy goes beyond awards.
To them, Maswanhise represents the next generation of Warriors talent attempting to establish itself on the European stage.
His performances this season have given local fans hope that Zimbabwe can continue producing attacking players capable of competing at a high level overseas.
That emotional connection is part of the reason reactions have been so intense.
Many supporters argue that while awards are subjective, goals, influence and consistency should ultimately carry the greatest weight in football recognition.
Others defended Motherwell’s decision, insisting football is about more than statistics alone and that overall contribution across the season also matters.
Still, the backlash surrounding the awards shows just how highly Maswanhise’s campaign has been rated, not only in Zimbabwe, but increasingly beyond.
Transfer Speculation Now Growing
Bunjira’s emotional outburst has now added fuel to growing speculation surrounding Maswanhise’s future at Motherwell.
After such a prolific season, the striker has already attracted interest from clubs searching for young attacking talent with proven goal-scoring ability and enormous potential for development.
At just the right stage of his career, Maswanhise now finds himself at a crossroads.
Stay and build further in Scotland?
Or move on after a season many fans believe deserved far greater recognition?
One thing, however, is becoming increasingly difficult to deny.
Motherwell may have handed out their biggest award to somebody else, but among countless Zimbabwean football supporters, Tawanda Maswanhise already looks like the player who truly owned the season.
Leave a Reply