‘Messi’ on course to breach 20-goal mark
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday November 20, 2021 06:00
It is a rather dry spell in front of goals early into the season as an average of just over nine goals is scored per round. This gives an average of one goal per match. The strikers are seemingly struggling to find the Midas Touch in front of the goal after a long spell of inactivity. However, Gaborone United’s attacker, Thatayaone ‘Messi’ Kgamanyane is leading the goal-scoring charts with four goals in three games. The 25-year-old had a goal in the Reds’ 1-0 win over Morupule Wanderers in the league opener.
He went on to get his second goal in GU’s 4-0 demolition of Mahalapye Railway Highlanders before a brace in the team’s 3-0 win over Extension Gunners a fortnight ago. Kgamanyane has sent warning shots to fellow contenders for the top goalscorer prize. He remains the only player to have a goal in every round of league games played as he has scored half of GU’s goals in this campaign. The Mankgodi-born attacker looks on course to break his season’s best of 20 goals in league games, a personal record he set during the 2017-2018 season. Since he broke the 20-goal mark, no other player has achieved the feat. Just a goal behind ‘Messi’ is Orapa United’s Thero ‘Mahachi’ Setsile with three goals.
The winger is yet to command a place in his new side’s starting 11 but once more proves to be relied upon in search of goals for a team that is blessed with an abundance of goal scoring talents. ‘Mahachi’ is a goal ahead of a host of players that include Prisons XI’s Kitso Mpuisang, who is back at his former club on loan from Township Rollers. Two seasons ago, in his debut season, Mpuisang notched 13 goals for the Warders, catching the eye of the bigger clubs and it was Popa who won the signature of the striker.
He did not have the best time at the Royal Aria Stadium and he was shipped on loan back to Prisons where he looks to have found his scoring touch with two goals thus far. Rollers’ Lemponye Tshireletso is level with two goals after he scored in the league opener against Gunners. Tshireletso is a regular scorer and a former golden boot winner in the 2014-2015 season after he netted 14 goals. Notwane’s new player Aobakwe Tshobo scored a brace against Mogoditshane Fighters on Tuesday to make it two for his new team.
The former Young Zebras’ striker is showing promise of being a great catch by Sechaba. Former Notwane sharpshooter, Thabiso Boti has two goals for Orapa United while yet another new player at BDF XI, Thabo Metlhayotlhe has also netted twice. With the gap slim between ‘Messi’ and the chasing pack, the attacker will be looking to maintain his perfect start as GU take on Premier League’s new side Masitaoka on Saturday afternoon at the Royal Aria Stadium. Morupule Wanderers are in search of a first win this campaign as they welcome Fighters at the Serowe Sports Complex on Friday evening in a 7pm kick-off. The Ostriches lock horns with Prisons XI at the Itekeng Stadium on Saturday afternoon while Notwane play Gilport Lions at the National Stadium.
Mahalapye Railways Highlanders will visit Sua Flamingoes at the Sowa Town Council Stadium as Extension Gunners hunt for their first win against BDF XI. On Sunday afternoon Rollers will be keen to stretch their unbeaten run against Security Systems at the National Stadium as Police XI host Jwaneng Galaxy at the Otse Stadium. All the games will kick off at 4pm, except the games involving Notwane/Gilport and Rollers/Systems that start 30 minutes earlier as they will be televised live.