HARARE - Rising Zimbabwean starlet Farai Mutatu, who is attached to TNT Under-13 Boys Red in Michigan, United States, is in the running to win the 2012 US Youth Soccer Goal of the Year following his stunning overhead kgoal.

Mutatu’s strike became an early contender for Goal of the Year back in April 16 last year, a goal which proved to be the match winner against Under-13 rivals SCOR 3-2.

The bicycle kick, struck from outside the box, draws distinct similarity to Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s wonder goal scored against England in a friendly last year.

The goal came off a set-piece played into the 18-yard box.

Mutatu displayed instinctive ability, reading a flicked ball from a teammate before showing audacious flexibility and athleticism to hammer home some 20 yards out.

Mutatu’s nomination amongst nine other impressive goals in the 2012 US Youth Soccer thus came as no surprise.

The youngster’s chance of seeing his goal emerge triumphant against an array of glorious goals is in the hands of the fans.

The US Youth Soccer recently posted on their website: “The general soccer community now has the chance to determine the 2012 winners in each category through an online voting process at USYouthSoccer.org beginning on January 7 at 9am The voting will close at noon on January 15.

Winners for the 2012 Goal and Save of the Year will be announced at the US Youth Soccer Awards Gala in Indianapolis on January 18 and live via Twitter (@USYouthSoccer).”

US Youth Soccer is the largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body for soccer in the United States.

US Youth Soccer is a nationwide body of over 600 000 volunteers and administrators, and over 300 000 dedicated coaches, most of who are also volunteers.

Mary “Abby” Wambach, an American professional soccer player, two-times Olympic gold medallist, and the 2012 Fifa World Player of the Year is one of the players that came through the ranks of US Youth Soccer.