Hardrock striker Washington Navaya and Dynamos coach Aristica Cioaba have been rewarded for their outstanding July performances after being named the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Player and Coach of the Month respectively.
Navaya’s prolific form helped keep Hardrock in the thick of the PSL title race, while Cioaba oversaw a remarkable revival at Dynamos as the Harare giants emerged as one of the division’s most formidable sides.
The Hardrock forward was particularly influential during the month, scoring twice and providing a series of impressive attacking displays that underlined his status as one of the league’s leading forwards.
Navaya scored in Hardrock’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Caps United at Chahwanda Stadium, where he also provided two assists, before converting a penalty in the club’s 2-0 victory over Herentals on July 12.
His performances came at a crucial stage of the campaign as Hardrock mounted a serious challenge near the summit.
The Kwekwe-based newcomers remained second behind defending champions Scottland for much of July, with Navaya leading the league’s scoring charts.
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His combination of goals, assists and consistent attacking threat made him a standout candidate for the monthly award.
Cioaba, meanwhile, masterminded a superb turnaround at Dynamos, guiding the Glamour Boys through an unbeaten July in which they won four of their five league matches and drew once.
Even more impressive was Dynamos’ defensive record, with the side keeping clean sheets in all five matches.
DeMbare began the month with a commanding 4-0 demolition of Agama at Rufaro Stadium on July 5 before edging Hardrock 2-1 four days later.
They followed that with a 2-0 away victory over MWOS on July 12, a goalless draw against Simba Bhora on July 19 and a crucial 1-0 victory over FC Platinum on July 22.
The impressive run propelled Dynamos into third place on the log and revived their hopes of challenging for the championship after an inconsistent start to the season.
Cioaba’s influence has been immediate since joining the Dynamos technical setup, with the Romanian coach focusing on improving the players and moulding a side capable of competing at the highest level.
The awards therefore underline the contrasting but equally significant contributions of Navaya and Cioaba — one leading Hardrock’s attack and the other rebuilding Dynamos into a disciplined and competitive outfit.