Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TELONE striker Washington Navaya’s influence and stock continue to rise after he was once again voted the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Player of the Month for September yesterday.
Navaya, the top-flight league’s leading scorer with 15 goals becomes the only player this season to bag the prestigious monthly accolade three times.
The Navigator as he is affectionately by the Gweru team’s fans, has previously won the award in March and April.
Dynamos gaffer Kelvin Kaindu was named the Coach of the Month after leading the Harare giants to an impressive undefeated run in September.
DeMbare’s fine in the last six games including two in September have amassed 16 points out of a possible 18 after recording a solitary draw against Triangle at Rufaro.
“I am really happy with such a record, it not only speaks to my abilities but also tells a big story of how conducive the TelOne system is for players to thrive,” said Navaya.
The former Highlanders Forward and league’s most lethal marksman has powered TelOne into fifth place on the log standings with 46 points from 29 games.
Navaya is directly responsible for 15 of the 34 goals that the WIFI Boys have scored so far this season.
Having joined TelOne at the beginning of the year to restart his career following an unpleasant three-year-spell at Highlanders, Navaya feels that his current form is indicative of his successful rebuilding.
“It is not easy to realise that things are going down south for you at a time when you are expected to be reaching your peak,” he said.
“As a player, you go through frustration which may even make things worse for you and honestly, I went through all this until I decided to head back home to Gweru.
“I am grateful that the home turf became my comfort space, I enjoyed the warm welcome and my passion was restored and here I am now.”
Navaya said he had set himself a double-digit mark as his target at the beginning of the season.
Getting his campaign on a high, the Navigator was consistent, scoring five goals in the opening five games of the season.
Although he did not score on match-day six, he went on to find the back of the net twice on the next game with his brace taking his tally to seven goals in as many games.
It was not until the weekend when the forward netted an important brace in their 2-1 win over Yadah at the Heart, taking his tally to 15 goals.
