Saturday, February 8, 2025

Kgamanyane has his eyes fixed on the golden boot

Gaborone United’s talisman Thatayaone Kgamanyane was on the rampage over the weekend as he single handedly buried BDF XI in a match in which his team won 3-1.

The Gaborone United marksman netted twice for his club and in the process becoming the leading top goal scorer with 15 goals, just a goal separating him from closest rival Orebotse Mongae of Miscellaneous Sporting Club.

Pundits are of the view that Kgamanyane is likely to be celebrated as one of those rare strikers capable of netting an avalanche of goals in one season.

The lanky striker’s impressive run has landed him a national call up in the Zebras team that will take on Lesotho in an international friendly scheduled for the national stadium this weekend. With reports linking the former Black Forest striker to South African teams, his coach Rudolph Zapata is of the view that the player’s talent can suit European professional leagues.

With eight games left before the season wraps up, Kgamanyane’s form is likely to see him netting more goals this season, a feat that has not been achieved by strikers in the past seasons. For the past three seasons, local strikers failed to score more than 20 goals. This has been attributed to the national team’s dismal performance especially in the goal department. Lemponye Tshireletso was crowned top goal scorer after netting 17 in the 2014/15 season followed by Tendai Nyamadzawo who netted 19 in the 2015/16 season.

Last season the tally dropped to 17 again when Zimbabwean international Terrence Mandaza won the coveted golden boot.

Kgamanyane who is a promising goal poacher is expected to cross the 20 goals mark that was only achieved in the 2013/14 season by Jwaneng Galaxy striker Patrick Kaunda. The pintsized striker scored the goals while plying his trade at former premiership side FC Satmos before signing for ABSA Premiership side Platinum Stars.

Despite Kgamanyane leading the pack, it will be an interesting battle as Miscellaneous’ Mongae is also on top form. Mongae has been on top form as he assisted his club to be a consistent thorn among top four clubs this season.

Other contestants for the golden boot are Tumisang Orebonye of Gaborone United who has scored 12 goals, Rashid Mandawa of BDF XI with 11 goals while former national team striker Keaketswe Moloi has scored 10 goals.

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