By Cliff Thudinyane
South Africa – Kaizer Chiefs striker, Knowledge Musona, who in the 2010/11 Absa Premiership season claimed the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot Award with 15 goals, could see his chances of repeating the same feat be dashed by injury.
Musona’s fine form in that season earned him a move to the German Bundesliga with 1899 Hoffenheim, however, things did not go his way as injuries plagued his progress, followed by a loan stint to FC Augsburg where he failed to net a single goal for the side. After pursuing a loan move back to Mzansi this season, he has once again re-discovered his form that saw him ‘terrorise’ defenders during his first stint at Chiefs.
The ‘Smiling Assassin’ is currently nursing an ankle injury he suffered in the 2-0 win over AS Vita in the CAF Champions League a fortnight ago, and went on to miss the club’s last two PSL games, the 2-0 win over Golden Arrows and the 1-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns.
The player seems set for a late fitness test tonight, but could miss the clash, which would add to the difficulty that the Zimbabwean faces in catching up with teammate Bernard Parker for the top goalscorer award.
Musona sits just two goals behind Parker who has 10, and if his form is anything to go by, the on-loan Hoffenheim man could surpass his club teammate for the gong. As a matter of fact, he is the only striker at the moment who has been firing on all cylinders in both league and cup fixtures.
Parker has not hit the back of the net in 10 matches though, so he could be due a goal with Chiefs still to play six games to the end of the 2013/14 camapign – and should he score, Musona would need four goals to go clear at the top.
On the other hand, Moroka Swallows’ on-loan striker, Edward Manqele, also sits on eight goals, however, with his side’s torrid run in the second round of the season, it remians to be seen if he could start finding his scoring form again.
Kaizer Chiefs’ next assignment will be against the ever-improving Mpumalanga Black Aces at the FNB Stadium tonight with the game set to start at 19:30. Soccer Laduma
Can Musona catch up with Parker in the race for the Golden Boot?
