SA strikers’ crisis: Mammila seeks divine intervention

Chippa United coach Morgan Mammila expressed his grave concern about the lack of goals scored by strikers in the DStv Premiership, saying that it requires divine intervention to be solved.

Mammila’s worry is understandable as lethal strikers are in short supply in SA’s topflight, as in the last 14 seasons in the PSL, the 20-goal mark has only been reached twice.

The legendary Siyabonga Nomvethe hit 20 goals in the 2011/12 season for Moroka Swallows, and Peter Shalulile scored 23 in Mamelodi Sundowns colours in the 2021/22 campaign.

Shalulile’s tally of 23 goals was two goals adrift of Collins Mbesuma’s record of 25 goals in the 2004/05 season for Kaizer Chiefs, which is still the highest goal tally in a single PSL campaign.

In other seasons, from 2013/14 to 2022/23, the highest average number of goals scored by a player is between 14 and 16, which is an indication of a crisis in the PSL striking department.

This season, teams like Sundowns have started brilliantly getting positive results, with their number nine Peter Shalulile having been clinical in front goal. On the other side, the likes of Cape Town Spurs, Kaizer Chiefs, Royal AM and many others are still struggling to convert goalscoring opportunities.

Over the years, DStv Premiership has attracted several strikers from many overseas countries, such as Souaibou Marou, Christian Saile, Andre De Jong, Gabadinho Mhango, Etiosa Ighodaro and Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana, however, there has only been a little improvement.

After matchday three in the new season of the DStv Premiership, Teams have scored 47 goals altogether.

MORGAN MAMMILA CLAIMS THERE ARE NO STRIKERS IN THE PSL

According to Mammila, there are no quality strikers in the league who can bang goals week in and week out. Many teams seem to be struggling to convert their opportunities into goals.

For instance, last season, the top scorers were Peter Shalulile of Sundowns and Cape Town City FC’s Khanyisa Mayo, who had 12 goals, respectively.

“The market is difficult, guys. You can look at the market; there is nothing. Even Sundowns doesn’t have [strikers]. They only have one [Peter Shalulile],” said Mammila.

“The problem is where [can we get them]. Strikers are scarce, we looking but you can’t find them easily. Kaizer Chiefs are also struggling, they are looking like other teams also.”

MORGAN MAMMILA ON SOUTH AFRICAN STRIKERS

Mammila further claimed that South Africa, as a footballing nation, is lacking in producing good strikers.

Khanyisa Mayo, Tshegofatso Mabasa, Ashley Du Preez, Iqraam Rayners, and Zakhele Lepasa are all SA strikers leading the attack for their respective teams. Meanwhile, Shalulile, Chibuike Ohizu, Gabadinho Mhango, Ighodaro and Augustine Mulenga are foreign first-choice strikers in their clubs.

“There are no strikers in South Africa, there are none. Maybe God will produce them in the near future. [In the PSL], the top goalscorers are not South Africans, most of them,” he added.

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