adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports reporter
LUNGILE Nyathi of Amagagasi won the Nokel Security Southern Region Soccer League top goal scorer award for May after banging in four goals.
Nyathi will pocket $150 for his exploits.
He beat April winner James Chivasa of Ntabazinduna and Indlovu Iyanyathela’s Collin Tshuma, who had three goals each. The monthly award seems to have ignited competition among strikers in the league with the overall leading scorer Chivasa on six goals.
Zifa Southern Region board member Jabulani Chinyangarara said: “At the rate that the strikers are scoring, we’re certain that the region’s top scorer will surpass last season’s 14 goals scored by Edmore Chirambadare. We’ll be presenting Nyathi with the award on Sunday before Amagagasi’s match against Bulawayo Chiefs.”
Because of his goal scoring potency while playing for Tsholotsho FC in the lower division last season, Chirambadare caught the attention of Premiership log leaders Chicken Inn and has continued with his good form for the Gamecocks. Chirambadare is the leading topflight scorer with eight goals after 13 matches.
Chinyangarara said he hoped more players from the lower league would attract the attention of Premiership sides.
“If we can have more unheralded players from the league making an impact in the Premiership, we would have achieved our goal of developing and providing a platform for players to realise their dreams. The message to all Premiership teams is that there are a number of talented youngsters in our league and instead of recycling players, they should send their scouts to our matches,” Chinyangarara said. One player who has rediscovered his yesteryear form in the promotional league is 25-year-old Lenience “Qobho” Mpofu of Bantu Rovers, who is tied on four goals with Nyathi and Admire Banda of ZPC Hwange.
Former national Under-20 utility player Proud Zireni of Bulawayo Chiefs is also in the top goal scorers’ chat with three goals. Other players on three goals are Bulawayo City’s Humphrey “Muchichwa” Ncube, Black Boots striker Remmington Masuku, the Indlovu Iyanyathela duo of Linton Mathe and Collin Ncube as well as Takunda Mazuva of Amagasi.
Southern Region Soccer League goal scorers’ chart
Six: James Chivasa (Ntabazinduna)
Four: Lungile Nyathi (Amagagasi), Lenience Mpofu (Bantu Rovers), Admire Banda (ZPC Hwange)
Three: Humphrey Ncube (Bulawayo City), Takunda Mazuva (Amagagasi), Proud Zireni (Bulawayo Chiefs), Remmington Masuku (Black Boots), Linton Mathe, Collin Ncube (both Indlovu Iyanyathela)
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