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SIGNED AND SEALED . . . World Navi managing director Stan Makombe (left) addresses the media in the company of Northern Region Division One Soccer League chairman Willard Manyengavana in Harare yesterday

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE Northern Region Division One Soccer League continues to thrive, with World Navi returning on board to sponsor the Soccer Star of the Year award again this year.

The winner of the award will walk away with a Toyota Corolla.

World Navi were the league’s main sponsors last season, but the two parties agreed to terminate their contract early this year. Northern Region League chairman Willard Manyengavana said back then they were concerned with what their sponsors were offering.

However, speaking during the hand-over of the car yesterday in Harare, Manyengavana said they had not terminated the contract, but were still negotiating terms of their partnership and have come up with a different agreement from the previous one.

“From the beginning of the season we could not confirm our marriage with World Navi as we could not agree on one or two things obviously not because World Navi was not interested or maybe because Northern Region was not interested.

“But there were a few technical issues that we needed to iron out and we did.

“I am happy that we had to sit down with World Navi and came up with a separate agreement from the one that we had last year.

“World Navi have agreed to continue sponsoring the Soccer Star of the Year. So, on behalf of Northern Region, I would like to thank World Navi for coming on board with such an important sponsorship,” said Manyengavana. Besides World Navi bouncing back onto the scene, the Northern Region have also managed to maintain their relationship with Supreme Panel Beaters, who have been sponsoring the top goal scorer of the month and top goal scorer of the year since last season.

“World Navi is the first company that came on board; it started sponsoring Northern Region (last year) and today we are happy we boast another corporate that also came on board in Supreme Panel Beaters,” said Manyengavana.

World Navi managing director Stanley Makombe said the award will go a long way in motivating the players.

“The NRSL Soccer Star of the Year award in this country has become the flagship award in football, giving purpose and value to the players in this league to give their all knowing very well that there is a valuable reward awaiting them should they excel and win,” said Makombe.

Former Mushowani Stars captain Zivanai Mhanda, who is now at Dynamos, won the inaugural award last year.