In the past two decades, it has been only six times that a foreign forward has managed to walk away with the Golden Boot accolade. Former Township Rollers' striker, Terrence Mandaza, has won it twice in the last 20 seasons, in the 2009-2010 season and also in the 2016-2017 campaign. The Zimbabwean had scored the most goals in a single campaign, finding the back of the net 31 times in the 2008-2009 season. Master Masitara has also won it twice,. First, he was joint with Zebras' legend, Jerome Ramatlhakwana, on 18 goals in the 2007-2008 and again in the 2008-2009 campaign whilst in the colours of Nico United. Zambian forward, Patrick Kaunda and Tendai Nyamadzawo have both won the Golden Boot on a single occasion. Nyamadzawo, in the colours of Gilport Lions, found the back of the net 19 times in the 2015-2016 season whilst also setting the record for most goals in a match, at seven goals. Kaunda on the other hand, whilst turning out for FC Satmos, managed 20 goals in the 2013-2014 season.
Mandaza's exploit in the 2016-2017 season was the last foreign forward to win the league's Golden Boot. In the past five seasons, Galaxy's Thabang Sesinyi has won it three consecutive times, whilst he was level and joint top-scorer with Omaatla Kebatho in the 2022-2023 season. Thatayaone Kgamanyane and Thero Setsile finished in the lead on the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 campaigns, respectively. Six football seasons after Mandaza, TAFIC's Jean Lumbamba Lwamba is on course to break the foreign striker barrier. The Congolese striker arrived on local shores at the start of the 2024-2025 season and could claim the coveted award in his debut season. Lwamba, after 10 rounds of football, leads the scoring charts with seven goals while he has assisted four times making it 11 goal contributions. He went off to a blistering start but could not find the net for three games until the midweek tie against BDF XI.
The forward is, however, in a tight race, being chased down by a cohort of local forwards. The 2017-2018 Golden Boot winner, Thatayaone Kgamanyane, scored his sixth of the season and he is just a goal behind Lwamba. Sua Flamingoes' Serati Semadi scored the first hat-trick of the season against VTM FC on Wednesday to make it five. He is tied with the Rollers' duo of Mbatshi Elias and Segolame Boy. Three players are tied on four goals and it is Senatla Molefhe, Wilfred Dithwane of VTM FC alongside Mochudi Centre Chiefs' Pako Gaofose. Lwamba will be in action this weekend as TAFIC visit VTM FC at the VTM Arena on Saturday at 4pm. In other games, Mochudi Centre Chiefs travel to the Galaxy Stadium where the defending champions, Jwaneng Galaxy lie in wait. Security Systems take on struggling Extension Gunners at the Lobatse Sports Complex while GU take on Sua Flamingoes at the BPSC Stadium.
On Sunday afternoon, Flamengo Santos and Nico United clash while BDF XI host Rollers at the Lobatse Sports Complex. Morupule Wanderers take a weekend off due to Orapa United's CAF Confederations Cup commitments.
