PSL STRIKERS ON STRIKE?

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter—
HAVE Premier Soccer League teams been hit by striking disasters or defence has simply improved? This is the question on many Zimbabwean soccer fans’ minds after witnessing only seven goals in three of the eight Premiership games played at the weekend. From the three scoring matches, only two games produced wins with FC Platinum beating Chapungu 2-0 on Saturday and How Mine edging Buffaloes 1-0 on the following day. The other ended in a 2-2 draw between Harare City and Flame Lily.

Shooting accuracy was lacking and it was another barren weekend for the Premiership’s leading goal scorers.

The weekend results probably proved that the league’s strikers are misfiring this season.

Leading scorer Edmore Chirambadare of Chicken Inn, who arrived back in the country on Saturday morning from a week-long trial stint at South African Premiership side Bidvest Wits, missed a sitter after coming on as a second-half substitute against Caps United later that afternoon.

The striker, who has eight goalsto his credit, blazed his effort into the terraces in the dying stages of the game. He also failed to direct his header while unmarked.

Chirambadare got off to a flying start, giving footballers lovers hope that he could pass the 20-goal mark.

Last season’s joint top goal scorers Charles Sibanda and Kuda Musharu shared the prize after banging in 13 goals in 30 games. These were the lowest number of goals recorded by a Golden Boot winner in a decade.

Shockingly, the reigning soccer stars are just under three goals with Musharu having scored twice while his teammate Sibanda is yet to score after 16 games.

The least goals netted by the country’s top marksman had previously been held by Dynamos’ Roderick Mutuma, who netted 14 times in 2011.

The last person to walk away with the once coveted Top Goal Scorer award having surpassed the 20-goal mark was Norman Maroto, who banged in 22 goals in 2010 for Gunners.

Dongo Sawmills captain Evans Chikwaikwai holds the record for being the most prolific forward since 2000 after scoring 23 goals for Njube Sundowns in 2008.

Other players that managed to score more than 20 goals since 2000 include former Bosso forward Zenzo Moyo in 2001 and ex-Caps United striker Nyasha Mushekwi in 2009. Moyo and Mushekwi scored 21 goals each.

Nelson Mazivisa, then playing for Shabanie Mine and Tendai Ndoro, formerly with Chicken Inn, won the 2012 and 2014 Golden Boot award with 18 goals each.

Fast forward to 2015, Chirambadare remains a candidate to land the accolade in the event that he reignites his early season potency in front of goal.

With Chicken Inn sitting at the top of the table after accumulating 30 points out of 15 outings and enjoying a one point lead over Triangle United, Chirambadare is expected to play a key role in the Gamecocks’ championship hopes.

On Saturday he showed some flashes of brilliance with great ball controls, dribbling skills and positioning.

What Chirambadare needs to work on is being a team player and to quickly release the ball to his teammates.

The striker, who has one national team cap, also has to work on his conversion rate.

Chirambadare has to be vigilant as the Golden Boot race is likely to take another twist in the second half of the season with the likes of How Mine’s Timothy January, Raphael Manuvire of ZPC Kariba, Triangle United’s Lameck Nhamo and Highlanders’ player-of-the-moment Knox Mutizwa all on six goals.

Mutizwa, who missed some earlier games in the season through injury, has scored six goals in six games. Before the 0-0 stalemate against Triangle United, the Young Warriors’ striker had scored in all the five consecutive games he started.

The pint-sized January, who got the winner against Buffaloes on Sunday, could push him towards the top goal scorer award to become the first midfielder in the last 10 years to win the accolade.

Defending champions Dynamos have shown strong intentions of fixing their scoring problems by re-engaging Mutuma, who has had a frustrating six months at Caps United, as well as Takesure Chinyama.

The Harare giants have also signed Richard Kawondera from Triangle United to add firepower upfront. Kawondera scored four goals for Triangle United.

PSL Goal Scorers after Week 16

8 – Edmore Chirambadare (Chicken Inn)

6 – Timothy January (How Mine), Raphael Manuvire (ZPC Kariba), Knox Mutizwa (Highlanders), Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Lameck Nhamo (Triangle United)

5 – Tinei Chitora (Chapungu), Donald Ngoma (FC Platinum)

End of season Top scorer

Year Name Club Goals

2005 Edmore Mufema Motor Action 17

2006 Ralph Matema Highlanders 19

2007 Cuthbert Malajila Chapungu 15

2008 Evans Chikwaikwai Njube Sundowns 23

2009 Nyasha Mushekwi Caps United 21

2010 Norman Maroto Gunners 22

2011 Rodrick Mutuma Dynamos 14

2012 Nelson Mazivisa Shabanie Mine 18

2013 Tendai Ndoro Chicken Inn 18