Mbuthuma backed to win PSL Golden Boot after Pirates breakthrough

Orlando Pirates striker Yanela Mbuthuma has been backed to finish the season as the league’s leading goalscorer after a promising run of form, with former Mamelodi Sundowns star Sandile Ndlovu praising the forward’s finishing and movement.

Mbuthuma appeared to be finding his confidence after setting up two goals in Pirates’ 3-0 MTN8 victory over Sekhukhune United last weekend. He then scored twice in Tuesday’s league match against Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium.

Those goals took his tally to two in four appearances.

Ndlovu, who was also a danger man during his time at Richards Bay FC, believes Mbuthuma can claim the Golden Boot if his team-mates continue to provide him with quality service.

“Because he knows how to position himself and he missed chances often, I always knew that once the boy starts scoring, he won’t stop,” says the man who answered to ‘AK-47’ as a nickname, speaking toKickOff.

The former striker said Mbuthuma’s second goal against Kruger United demonstrated qualities that are not possessed by every player. The forward was under pressure as he controlled the ball with his knee, assessed the position of the defenders behind him and measured the distance between himself and the goalkeeper before finishing.

“The knee touch to set up the ball very nicely in front of him while under pressure like that, the scanning of the two defenders chasing him, but still Mbuthuma was able to check the distance between him and the goalkeeper.

“The way he chipped that goalkeeper with a curling ball is stuff you only see from big stars abroad.”

Ndlovu also rejected suggestions that Mbuthuma’s goals have come only from simple finishes.

He argued that the striker’s first goal against Kruger United, which some observers had described as a tap-in, still required concentration and technique to convert.

“Even the first goal, people are saying it’s a tap-in. That ball he could have easily missed! But because he worked on his finishing all along it seems, he was able to finish it nicely.”

Mbuthuma also had to beat a goalkeeper moving towards the side where he intended to place the ball, while a defender remained behind him.

“It’s not easy to score against a keeper diving to the side you plan to score in. And even there, there was a defender behind Mbuthuma.

Ndlovu was encouraged by the support Mbuthuma has received from the rest of the Pirates squad and believes that continued service could help the striker challenge for the league’s top individual scoring award.

“I’m happy with how the Pirates players are supporting him. With such teammates, Mbuthuma will be our league’s Top Goalscorer this season,” argues the former striker.

The original coverage also referenced related reports titled “Lekoelea: What Ouaddou is doing might backfire” and “Ouaddou: Pirates are cruising well”. It included a promotional note stating that SuperSportBet is suited to PSL and Springboks betting fans, as well as mobile-first punters using prepaid data.