Mabasa Seeks to Surpass Ribeiro in Golden Boot Race

Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa has thrown down the gauntlet to his rivals in the race for the Betway Premiership Golden Boot, notably challenging Mamelodi Sundowns’ standout Lucas Ribeiro Costa, who is currently at the top of the leaderboard.

The 28-year-old forward experienced a difficult start to the league season, scoring his first goal for the 2024/25 campaign during the opening match against Chippa United, which propelled the Buccaneers to a 2-1 win. However, he endured a seven-match goal drought before finding the net again in mid-December 2024 against Marumo Gallants.

Mabasa has netted five goals in 17 appearances in the Betway Premiership, with his latest goal recorded last month against Cape Town City. Overall, the Bucs’ striker boasts 13 goals and one assist across 34 games in all competitions.

Having achieved two hat-tricks this season, Mabasa revealed the secret behind his remarkable scoring run during a season where the Soweto giants are contending on multiple fronts and are in pursuit of three trophies.

“The backing from my teammates has been essential; they continually lift my spirits and stand by me. I feel a strong obligation to give everything for this club as we strive for significant accomplishments this season,” he expressed.

“For example, we are competing not only in the league but also in the Champions League, we’ve clinched the MTN8, and we are aiming for the Nedbank Cup. Personally, as a striker, I have certain targets I wish to hit before the season wraps up.”

Though he trails Ribeiro by eight goals, with the latter scoring 13 to lead the charts, Mabasa confidently claims that he will ultimately secure the golden boot ahead of the Brazilian and other competitors.

“I see myself finishing in first place. My goal is to net 18 goals in the league, and I’m convinced I can achieve that by the end of the season,” stated Mabasa, who earned last season’s golden boot with 16 league goals.

While many strikers hesitate to set a specific scoring target, the former Bloemfontein Celtic player shared his reasoning for feeling optimistic about reaching that 18-goal mark this season.

“It’s largely dependent on the opportunities I’ve had so far this season. Chances have been relatively scarce, and it also hinges on how other teams defend against me while I’m on the field,” Mabasa detailed.

“Studying the movements of center-backs has enriched my understanding this season across different matches. So, yes, my confidence is firmly rooted in statistics.”