WASHINGTON NAVAYA never saw this coming. That’s for certain.

His pensive look and disposition while waiting in the packed auditorium staging the Soccer Stars of the Year banquet told it all.

Until his name was called out, he was never really amongst the front-runners as per bookmakers’ odds.

Of course he had been certain about one award . . . the Golden Boot gong as his 17 goals for TelOne had seen him pip Scottland striker Tymon Machope (16 goals) to the prize.

The Soccer Stars award seemed set for either title-winning Scottland defender Kevin Moyo or fans favourite and Dynamos captain Emmanuel Jalai.

But bookmakers don’t always get it right.

The 2025 season was one that provided it all. Drama, tears and then joy.

And most certainly a huge chunk of joy rested on Navaya right on the final night of the top-flight year.

Given there was no one predominantly outstanding throughout the season, it had to be his goals that carried TelOne and ultimately Navaya to the podium.

It had to be his turnaround season to win it all.

At 27 years old and in his sixth term in the top-flight, characterised by more disappointment than satisfaction, Navaya is finally king of the Premiership.

And for all the noisy build-up to it; a whirlwind revolving around just Moyo and Jalai, it was Navaya who emerged top of the cream.

Jalai never made it amongst the top three.

He had, however, provided the silver lining on a largely gloomy league campaign for DeMbare in which they only guaranteed their Premiership survival on the final day of the season.

Instead it was Simba Bhora’s Emmanuel Ziocha who was voted the second runner-up and just like in 2017 when he was still at FC Platinum, Moyo settled for the first runner-up place.

For Navaya his goals helped TelOne complete a remarkable turnaround.

The Gweru outfit were almost demoted last year, but with Navaya leading the line, they secured a fifth place finish.

His goals were massive.

His assists were decisive.

And one would feel he deserved to put the icing on the cake at the end of a season he outperformed his own expectations.

And there he was.

Seated in the middle of his outstanding colleagues, also voted amongst the best 11 for the season; Ziocha, Ishe Mauchi and William Thole (both Simba Bhora), Jarrison Selemani (FC Platinum), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Tymon Machope and Moyo (Scottland), Billy Veremu and Aboubakar Moffat (MWOS); silent and never imagining he would walk away with the biggest individual prize to join a roll of honour with big names like the late George Shaya and legendary ex-Warriors skipper Peter Ndlovu. There he was, as humble as he has always been.

And to tag the Golden Boot trophy, which is the only one he was looking to lift, along with the big one was a feeling he said he has never had before.

“This is my finest hour. I never imagined it will go this way. I give it to my teammates, my coach Herbert Maruwa and his technical staff.

“I would also like to salute the TelOne management and everyone involved, especially the fans,” he said.

“For me to score those goals and be able to get those assists, it’s because of the whole ecosystem.”

Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya was the favourite to win his second Coach of the Year accolade on the trot after making history by winning the league title for two consecutive seasons with different teams retained his crown while Malawi’s Simba Bhora goalkeeper William Thole won the Goalkeeper of the Year award after keeping 17 clean sheets for the Shamva side who finished third on the table.

Scottland’s hotshot Mafious Chihweta took home the Rookie of the Year award while Jalai got his consolation when winning the Fans Choice Award.

Africa Cup of Nations bound match offical Brighton Chimene  retained the Referee of The Year award

SOURCE: THE HERALD