Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TELONE forward Washington Navaya is chasing history. Though overlooked for national duty, the Premier Soccer League’s leading scorer is determined to break a 15 year old goal scoring record set by the late Norman Maroto.
Maroto netted 22 goals for Gunners in 2010 and remains the last striker to pass the 20 goal mark in a single PSL season. Navaya is on 16 goals, needing just four more in the final four matches of the 2025 Castle Lager Premiership to match or surpass that milestone.
He’ll get his next chance when TelOne face FC Platinum at Mandava on Saturday, the same day his closest rival, Tymon Machope, and Scottland host MWOS at Rufaro. Machope sits on 13 goals, one ahead of MWOS’ Billy Veremu, keeping the Golden Boot race wide open.
“I’ll push hard until the last game because I know the race is still on,” Navaya told Zimpapers Sports Hub. “Reaching 20 goals will be a great achievement, and winning the Golden Boot would be just awesome.”
Despite missing out on the national team call up, Navaya remains laser focused on his season’s goal. “Growing up, I always wanted to be a top striker. I’ve always wished to one day finish as the Premier Soccer League’s top scorer. I’ll push till the end of the season.”
Still, the battle is far from over. Machope and Veremu are close behind, and their weekend clash at Rufaro could reshape both the title race and Golden Boot standings.
Machope knows the odds but remains hopeful. “It now sounds more like a mission impossible, but with God, everything is possible. A lot can happen in the last four games, it’ll be interesting, I tell you,” said the former Simba Bhora striker.
After a slow start, Machope has rediscovered his touch and is fired up for Saturday’s showdown. “Against MWOS, that’s a massive game, rakaipa game iroro, but we’ll do our best. The Golden Boot race is exciting, Veremu is also in the mix, so it’s going to be interesting,” said the 32-year-old forward.
Scottland still have Kwekwe, Greenfuel, and TelOne to play, while MWOS will face Triangle United, CAPS United, and Ngezi Platinum Stars after this weekend’s encounter.
“It would be perfect if Scottland win the championship and I also clinch the Golden Boot,” Machope said. The striker, who won the title with Simba Bhora but lost the Golden Boot to Highlanders’ Lynoth Chikuhwa, added, “Let’s see what happens this time around.”
As it stands, Scottland lead the log with 59 points, four ahead of Simba Bhora. MWOS follow on 55 points, setting up a thrilling final stretch. Should Scottland go all the way, they’d become the first Premiership debutants to win the title since Black Rhinos in 1984.
