Story by Mthokozisi Dube
THEY say a change of environment can either unsettle or transform a player. For TelOne’s Washington Navaya, it has done the latter, reigniting a career many thought had dimmed.
From being written off to rewriting his own story, that is the remarkable rebirth of TelOne forward Washington Navaya.
Deemed surplus at Highlanders, the striker has found his spark again in Gweru, becoming one of the most lethal finishers in the Premier Soccer league.
At Bosso, opportunities were few and far between with cameo appearances, limited game time and growing frustration being the order of the day.
When the axe finally fell, Navaya did not sulk, he went home to Gweru and signed for TelOne and there, under coach Herbert Maruwa, he rediscovered his scoring touch.
This season, Navaya has been unstoppable ,16 goals and counting, he is just one behind last year’s Golden Boot winner Lynoth Chikuhwa.
For the Wi-Fi Boys, who were fighting relegation just a season ago, Navaya’s goals have sparked new belief pushing them into top-four contention.
But amid the cheers, one question lingers: how has the league’s most consistent goal scorer been left out of the national team setup?
Many are asking what more he must do to earn his call-up.
As the Castle Lager season winds down, Navaya’s story stands as a reminder that sometimes being let go is exactly what sets you free.
