Shalulile’s PSL goal tally puts him in the company of global top scorers

SPORTS

Having netted 22 DStv Premiership goals, this figure puts the Namibian footballer in the company of global stars who have hit a 20-plus goal mark so far during this campaign.

The list includes Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah who is on 22 strikes, Kylian Mbappé of Paris Saint-Germain on 24 goals, Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland on 21, Ciro Immobile of Lazio on 27 and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema with 26.

Only Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has scored more, with 34 leagues so far this season.

What is remarkable for Shalulile is that he achieved his feat in a 18-team league compared with his competitors who are campaigning in 20-club streams.

Similarly, Lewandowski’s haul was attained in a 16-team Bundesliga structure.

READ: Peter Shalulile within grasp of breaking Collins Mbesuma's 17-year PSL record

Heading into Sundowns’ epic league clash against Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday, and two more fixtures to conclude the season, Shalulile stands a chance to close in on a longstanding PSL record for most league goals in a single season.

Former Chiefs striker Collins Mbesuma netted 25 during the 2004/05 campaign.

Only three other players, Siyabonga Nomvethe (20 goals during the 2011/12 season), Pollen Ndlanya (21 in 1998/99) and Wilfred Mugeyi (22 in 1996/97) have breached the 20-goal mark in the PSL era.

Shalulile has improved from the 15 goals that made him finish second behind Bradley Grobler of SuperSport United, who claimed last season’s top scorer’s award with 16 goals.

It has been a remarkable season for the Sundowns talisman.

Shalulile’s best-scoring sequence so far was no doubt the back-to-back hat-tricks he snatched against Swallows and Golden Arrows last month.

The devastating form in front of goal has even elevated the former Highlands Park striker to do better than some of the world’s known net-bulgers, such as Liverpool’s Sadio Mané, Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Atlético de Madrid’s Luis Suárez, Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy.

READ: Peter Shalulile opens up on doing 'extra work' to maintain scoring form

The aforementioned group has scored less than 20 league goals so far this season.

All eyes will be on Shalulile on Sunday to see if he will bring his scoring boots to FNB Stadium for Sundowns’ clash with Chiefs.

Daniel Mothowagae  Deputy sports editor +27 11 713 9001 Daniel.Mothowagae@citypress.co.za www.citypress.co.za 69 Kingsway Rd, Auckland Park