Bradley Grobler four goals from breaking PSL scoring record

Bradley Grobler moved to within four goals of Peter Shalulile’s all-time Premier Soccer League scoring record after scoring his first goal for Stellenbosch.

The strike took the 38-year-old’s PSL total to 130, moving him clear of Siyabonga Nomvethe and into second place among the competition’s leading scorers since its launch in 1996.

Only Shalulile stands between Grobler and the record, with the Namibian having scored 134 goals during spells with Highlands Park and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Shalulile has since joined Young Africans in Tanzania, where he is now scoring in the Tanzanian Premier League. His move has effectively brought his pursuit of the PSL record to an end and left Grobler with a clear opportunity to claim the landmark.

Nomvethe scored 129 goals between 1997 and 2019 for African Wanderers, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Moroka Swallows and AmaZulu. Grobler’s latest goal leaves him ahead of the former South Africa international and just four goals behind Shalulile.

Six fixtures to reach the landmark

Grobler’s next opportunities will come during Stellenbosch’s fixtures against Kruger United, Kaizer Chiefs, Chippa United, Richards Bay FC, TS Galaxy and Orlando Pirates.

The meeting with Kaizer Chiefs could be particularly significant. Grobler has regularly scored against the club and has a strong record when facing them, giving him another chance to reduce the gap to Shalulile.

Should he maintain his current position in the scoring charts, Grobler could overtake Shalulile during that sequence of matches.

A career spanning five clubs

Grobler scored the first goal of his PSL career for Platinum Stars in a 3-1 defeat away to Free State Stars in late November 2007.

He later found the net for Ajax Cape Town, SuperSport United and Sekhukhune United before joining Stellenbosch at the beginning of this season.

His goal for his new club was his 130th in the PSL and continued a run that has taken him beyond Nomvethe and to the verge of a record that has stood at the top of the competition’s scoring list.

Shalulile’s final goal came for Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup against Gomora United in February. With the Namibian now playing in Tanzania, the record of 134 goals is within Grobler’s reach.

The remaining question is no longer whether Grobler can break the mark, but when he will do so.