Navaya rediscovers scoring touch in golden boot battle

WASHINGTON “The Navigator” Navaya is proving that his 2025 Soccer Star of the Year and Golden Boot awards were no fluke, with the Hardrock striker once again finding his scoring touch at a crucial stage of the season.

After a frustrating goal drought that saw him fire blanks against FC Platinum at Mandava on Matchday 17 and

Scottland FC at Rufaro on Matchday 18, Navaya rediscovered his predatory instincts on Sunday, scoring a clinical brace against ZPC Kariba at Chahwanda Stadium to take his tally into double figures after Matchday 19.

It was his second consecutive home brace, further evidence that when The Navigator finds his bearings in front of goal, defenders are left struggling to contain him.

Just two weeks ago, Navaya had six goals to his name. A ruthless double against Simba Bhora at Chahwanda on

June 7 lifted his tally to eight and brought him within touching distance of Herentals captain Ralph Kawondera, one of the league’s most consistent marksmen.

The midweek outing at Mandava yielded no goals. Another blank followed at Rufaro Stadium last Sunday.

However, class is permanent.

Against ZPC Kariba, Navaya was back to his best, lurking dangerously inside the penalty area and finishing with the composure that has become his trademark. He buried two goals and, but for the assistant referee’s flag, could easily have completed a hat-trick.

Now level on 10 goals with Kawondera at the summit of the scoring charts, The Navigator is steadily tracking down his own 2025 benchmark of 17 goals.

“I’m highly elated because my wish this season was to reach double figures. What’s left now is to work hard and see if I can reach my tally from last season or surpass it. I’m happy scoring my second brace at home and getting to the top of the goals’ chart with the big boys,” Navaya said after the match.

Kawondera, the evergreen Herentals captain, continues to use his vast experience to maintain his place among the league’s leading scorers and remains firmly in contention for the Golden Boot.

Knowledge Musona has also struck form at the right time, with his seven-goal haul keeping him firmly in the race for the league’s top individual scoring honour.

And it would be unwise to discount Khama Billiat. The Scottland talisman has rediscovered his scoring rhythm and continues to deliver when it matters most, taking his tally to eight goals after Matchday 19.

For now, however, The Navigator has the momentum. The experienced striker has delivered two braces in his last two home matches, producing four goals to reinforce his status as one of the league’s most lethal forwards.

The Golden Boot race is alive, fiercely competitive and increasingly captivating.

Experienced campaigners and emerging talents alike — including Dynamos duo Jairos Kasondo and Frank Agyemang, MWOS forward Arthur Banda and Simba Bhora’s Harison Masina — are all jostling for position in a tightly contested race.

With plenty of football still to be played, the battle for the Golden Boot appears destined to go down to the wire.