Online Reporter
Onward Gangata
Zimpapers Sports Hub
HARDROCK coach Kelvin Kaindu has come to the defence of striker Washington Navaya who has been a subject of abuse by a section of the team’s fans.
Navaya, the reigning Soccer Star of the Year, has had a sluggish start to life at the Kwekwe-based side.
The striker has managed to score in back-to-back matches for the first time this season to take his goal tally to three.
His header against Agama last week secured three points for Hardrock while his late strike against Ngezi Platinum Stars on Sunday rescued a point for the Kasongo Boys.
Navaya also scored the solitary goal in Hardrock’s 1-0 away win at ZPC Kariba earlier in the season.
This means Navaya’s goals have directly won Hardrock seven points.
Hardrock are second on the log standings, two points behind leaders Caps United who have 19 points.
But for a player who came with so much hype after a stellar show at TelOne last season where he banged in 17 goals, it seems Hardrock fans are demanding more.
Regardless of his growing impact at the club, against Ngezi Platinum Stars, Navaya was jeered and booed by fans, especially in the first-half where the Kwekwe side missed a glut of chances.
“There are always moments like that,” Hardrock coach, Kelvin Kaindu, leaned to Navaya’s defence.
“Fans always want to win, it is football, the same Navaya that the fans booed, is the same player who gave us the equaliser.” Kaindu added: “Sometimes he may not be at his best that is why we need to encourage him, as coaches we do not react to what the fans are looking for.
“These are the players that we have and we have to encourage them, one day it is difficult, another day you deliver, football is like that, today you are a hero, the next day you are a villain.”
