Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
LOCATED along the Red Sea coast, Jeddah is not only Saudi Arabia’s second largest city and a commercial hub but also a place that is full of rich history.
It has been a major gateway for Muslim travellers going to the holy city of Mecca for Islamic pilgrimage.
Jeddah is also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
That is where Zimbabwe’s leading scorer, Washington Navaya, is set to write his own history.
The 27-year-old TelOne striker is the only new face in a 24-man Zimbabwe squad that will face Algeria in a high-profile friendly at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City tomorrow.
Navaya currently leads the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League goal-scoring chart with 17 goals and is hoping to transform his club form to the national team, should he be given a run by new Warriors coach Marian “Mario’’ Marinica.
The Romanian has already charmed some players with his confidence and tactical drills.
“I want to thank the coaches for the opportunity they have given me.
“This is something that I have been looking forward to for a very long time. So, it has been fulfilled and I am very happy.
“My wish is to transform my league form to the national team,” said Navaya.
He is one of the players who have been impressed with how Marinica conducts his business, although it is still too early to judge the Romanian gaffer, who has been tasked to help Zimbabwe past the Africa Cup of Nations group stages for the first time.
Zimbabwe will make their sixth appearance at the AFCON finals in Morocco next month and Marinica, who replaced German Michael Nees, will be hoping to repeat a feat he achieved with Malawi at the 2022 tournament in Cameroon.
“Super Mario’’, as he is affectionately known, guided the Flames to the Round of 16, in what was a first for Malawi.
“I am happy the new coach is teaching us a lot of new things, in football you learn every day.
“We have been doing some good drills here and it looks nice,” said Navaya.
“As a team we have to compete and show that we are a good team. Algeria are a good side and these are the kind of teams that we will be facing at the AFCON.
“My job is to score goals, so I will keep pushing.”
After playing Algeria tomorrow, Zimbabwe will face 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar on Monday in the same city of Jeddah.
The Warriors are preparing for the AFCON finals where they will play Angola, Egypt and South Africa.
And the appointment of Marinica who has a decent AFCON finals history with Malawi has been greeted with guarded optimism within the local football fraternity.
There are others who are doubting his capacity to transform the national team, while some want him to be afforded a chance.
However, Marinica’s real task starts tomorrow in Jeddah where he could hand Navaya his long-awaited Warriors debut.
On the domestic front, Navaya will be hoping he can score three goals past champions Scottland at Ascot in their final game of the season to take his ally to 20.
He has banged in 17 goals for TelOne and is now three shy of reaching the 20-goal mark.
The late Norman Maroto, who banged in 22 in 2010, remains the only player to last score 20-plus goals in the Premiership.
