Chirinda, Binzi or Benhura?

PERHAPS it was by fate or coincidence that Obriel Chirinda scored his 10th goal of the season at the Mpilo End at Barbourfields Stadium when Bulawayo Chiefs stunned high-riding Dynamos 2-1 on September 16.

The striker, who was born at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo 26 years ago, had never reached double figures in the Premier Soccer League before that second half-strike against DeMbare.

He bossed his way past skipper Frank Makarati, before coolly slotting the ball past a diving Taimon Mvula, as the Ninjas ended DeMbare’s fine run in which they had been unbeaten in the first six matches of Genesis Mangombe’s reign.

Chirinda took his tally to 11 after scoring against Yadah last weekend.

He is now the Premiership’s top scorer after 24 games.

Manica Diamonds’ Fortune Binzi is hot on his heels with 10 goals, just one ahead of in-form Ngezi Platinum Stars forward Takunda Benhura.

Chicken Inn’s flying winger Michael Charamba and Ngezi Platinum Stars skipper Qadr Amini have seven each.

The quartet of Tinotenda Benza (Herentals), Malvin Hwata (Chicken Inn), Walter Musona (FC Platinum) and last season’s top scorer William Manondo (CAPS United) is tied on six goals.

Manondo won the 2022 Golden Boot with 17 goals but has struggled this year.

Instead, it is Chirinda — now just six goals shy of Manondo’s last season tally with 10 games left — who might take the gong this year.

He, however, would have to score 11 goals or more in the remaining 10 games to match or break Norman Maroto’s long-standing record of 22 goals, which he achieved with Gunners in 2010.

No Premiership player has breached the 20-goal mark since Maroto’s feat.

Chirinda insists he does not want to be distracted by that record, as “he just wants to stay fit and play more games”.

He has already missed six league games due to injury this season.

This means he has scored 11 goals in 18 games, which translates to a return of 0.6 goals per game.

At this rate, he has a chance of scoring at least six more goals and reach 17, if he is to play all the remaining league games.

“To be honest, I don’t have any target; I just want to keep on enjoying my game,” Chirinda told The Sunday Mail Sport.

“I want to make sure I stay fit and play all the remaining 10 games and then see what happens.”

So prolific in front of goal has Chirinda been that Highlanders’ Brazilian coach Brito wanted to sign him at all costs during the mid-season transfer window.

But Bosso authorities were reportedly not very keen and the deal fell through.

But the player had been excited about the prospects of playing for Bosso.

“Honestly, every player wants to play for a big team, and Highlanders are one of the biggest teams in the country.

“That’s the reason I am pushing hard because I can see there are people watching me and seeing the good things I am doing,” he said.

He also played Southern Region Division One League football with Bantu Rovers.

If Chirinda can maintain his form, then the PSL are well-poised for another intriguing race for the Golden Boot.

The 22-year-old Benhura scored a firsthalf brace when Ngezi thumped ZPC Kariba 3-0 at Nyamhunga last weekend to open a four-point lead at the top of the table.

The former Ngezi Under-19 player was given his first taste of Premiership football by former Warriors striker Benjani Mwaruwari.

Mwaruwari took charge of the Mhondoro-based side between May and July 2022.

Benhura has been in fine form for Ngezi, who are chasing a maiden championship title since their 2016 promotion into the top-flight.

From the Eastern Highlands, Manica Diamonds are also chasing a first PSL title, and Binzi has been leading that quest with his keen eye for goal.

Despite missing a couple of weeks due to a fracture on his left hand on July 1, the former Yadah Stars striker is still in the hunt for the Golden Boot.

“I just want to thank the Almighty for giving me the opportunity to shine,” Binzi said.

“l have to thank the whole Manica Diamonds family for giving me the chance to play.

“So far, my target is to score as many goals as I can.”

It might still be too early to predict, but it looks like the 2023 Golden Boot race might not involve players from the country’s traditional Big Three — Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United.

Manondo has been unreliable for wobbly Makepekepe this season.

DeMbare also have issues with their attack.

That their central midfielder Donald Mudadi is the club’s leading scorer with just five goals underscores the impotence of the Dynamos strikers.

Congolese striker Eli Ilunga and centre-back Makarakati have four goals each.

Bosso’s leading scorer is midfielder Melikhaya Ncube with three goals.

Strikers Lynoth Chikuhwa, Washington Navaya and Calvin “Kung Fu Panda” Chigonero have two goals each.

Perhaps, that explains why Highlanders have scored 18 goals so far, the same tally as Yadah, who are third from the bottom.