Bafana Bafana scorers: PSL numbers reveal a major problem

A look at the PSL goalscoring charts highlights Bafana Bafana’s continuing Achilles heel: a dearth of consistent goalscorers.

following the trend

Currently, there are only three South African-born forwards in the top seven positions of the top scorers list, which is made up of players who have scored four or more goals.

Leading with six goals each are Kaizer Chiefs’ Burundian striker Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana, Mamelodi Sundowns’ Namibian sharpshooter Peter Shalulile and veteran SuperSport United striker Bradley Grobler, who turns 35 next month.

Besides Grobler, the other local players in the top seven are Cape Town’s Khanyisa Mayo and Golden Arrows winger Pule Mmodi, a reported target for Kaizer Chiefs, who have four goals.

Last season, of course, Shalulile took the Golden Boot after scoring 23 goals and was joined in the top three by Cameroonian striker Bienvenu Eva Nga, now with Orlando Pirates but then with Chippa United.

The only South African in the top three last season was Victor Letsoalo, who has lost his goalscoring form this season.

The previous season (20/21) at least saw a South African win the Golden Boot – Grobler. But before that there was a foreign-born striker hat-trick, as Shalulile, Gabadinho Mhango (Malawi) and Mwape Musonda (Zambia), picked up three Golden Boot awards respectively.

Overall, in 28 seasons of PSL football, only 15 Golden Boot winners have been South Africans. And several of them have been one-hit wonders, like Moeketsi Sekola, Jacky Ledwaba, Rodney Ramagalela and Lebohang Manyama, for example.

hunting abroad

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Of course, there are some options abroad, although none of the current options have been red-hot goalscorers.

Lyle Foster and Fagrie Lakay are good prospects, although with Percy Tau struggling with injury, 22-year-old Bongokuhle Hlongwane is arguably Bafana’s strongest shot at the moment.

Over the years, there have been too many false dawns of foreign-based strikers coming to the rescue, as the likes of Lebo Mothiba, Kermit Erasmus, Davide Somma and Thulani Serero failed to score consistent goals.

Overall, looking at home and abroad, Bafana manager Hugo Broos doesn’t have much of a choice, and in the longer term, the shortage of goalscorers in the PSL is certainly an issue that needs to be addressed.

For too long we have been crying out for the next Benni McCarthy, Shaun Bartlett, Katlego Mphela, Lesley Manyathela or Siyabonga Nomvethe.