Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
WITH just three games to the conclusion of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, the race for the Golden boot is on.
The winner of the Golden Boot will walk away with a cool US$6 375.
Caps United striker William Manondo leads the chart with 15 goals. Manondo has spent the greater part of the season topping the charts but as the league reaches the finish point, he faces competition from FC Platinum forward Walter Musona who is now on 12 goals.
Chicken Inn’s Brian Muza is one shy of Musona while Lynoth Chikuhwa of Highlanders with 10 goals concludes the list of players who have attained double figures this season.
Manondo looked set to surpass the 20-goal mark, a feat that has not been achieved by any Zimbabwean player in over a decade but that now appears impossible. Norman Maroto was the last to achieve that when he banged 22 goals for Gunners in 2010.
The last time Manondo was on target was in Caps United’s 2-1 loss to Highlanders back in August. The goals have dried up since then.
The same can be said for Muza and Chikuhwa. Muza was last on target on September 24 when he scored against Whawha in a 1-0 win for Chicken Inn.
Chikuhwa has also endured a dry spell having last netted when he scored a brace against Triangle United at Barbourfields Stadium on September 11.
The arrival of coach Baltemar Brito was a blessing for Chikuhwa who had only managed three goals in 17 first-half games of the 2021/22 season when Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu was in charge.
After the arrival of Brito, the 29-year-old striker became the first player to reach the 10 goal mark in the league for Highlanders since Knox Mutizwa found the target 14 times in 2015.
Other scorers of note in the league this season are Black Rhinos’ Eli Ilunga, Dynamos’ Emmanuel Paga and Nyasha Chintuli of Manica Diamonds, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya from FC Platinum and Jayden Barake from Whawha, all with nine goals.
Meanwhile, Caps United travel to Bulawayo to play third placed Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium on Saturday. ZPC Kariba host Bulawayo City at Nyamhunga in a crucial relegation battle match while Harare City entertain Whawha at the National Sports Stadium.
Champions FC Platinum play host to Yadah at Mandava while Black Rhinos date Manica Diamonds at Sakubva.
Fixtures
Saturday: ZPC Kariba v Bulawayo City (Nyamhunga 1pm), Harare City v WhaWha (NSS), Chicken Inn v Caps United (Luveve), FC Platinum v Yadah (Mandava), Black Rhinos v Manica Diamonds (Vengere), Tenax v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Sakubva)
Sunday: Cranborne Bullets v Triangle (Vengere), Bulawayo Chiefs v Herentals (Luveve), Dynamos v Highlanders (NSS)-@innocentskizoe
Online Reporter