Staff Reporter.
@GalloImages.
(SS) – Bradley Grobler’s goal against Stellenbosch FC has taken his tally in South African football to 97 as he closes in on becoming just the sixth player to reach a century of goals in the Premier Soccer League era.
Grobler netted for Matsatsantsa in the 2-0 win to not only take them top of the DStv Premiership table, but also brings him level with Mamelodi Sundowns’ Peter Shalulile and Caleb Bimenyimana from Kaizer Chiefs on six goals at the top of this season’s scorers charts.
He has netted in his last three games and looks now to be marching steadily to 100 goals, a number only achieved previously by Siyabonga Nomvethe (123), Mabhuti Khenyeza and Daniel Mudau (both 110), Tico-Tico (104) and Collins Mbesuma (103).
Mudau’s total career tally was 172 if his goals in the pre-PSL seasons are included while records for the likes of Ace Ntsoelengoe, who played prior to the launch of the NSL in 1985, are patchy.
Just where Grobler may end up on that list is anybody’s guess, but the 34-year-old’s hunger for goals means he will surely be targeting Nomvethe’s mark.
He may have been much closer already were it not for an injury-ravaged season in 2021-22, in which he netted only once, but since his return has been firing on all cylinders.
Grobler has netted against 28 different clubs in the DStv Premiership, finally breaking his duck against Mamelodi Sundowns after 15 years of trying earlier this season when he netted against The Brazilians.
A man for the big occasion, his two favourite opponents are Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
He has netted 10 times against the AmaKhosi, more than any other club, and has eight goals versus Pirates, who are second on his list of victims.
He will be mourning the demise of Bloemfontein Celtic having netted seven goals against the now-defunct Free State club, though he has kept their spirit alive by already netting against Royal AM, who purchased their top-flight status ahead of the 2021-season.
As for goals against his former sides, he has four against Platinum Stars and netted once versus Ajax Cape Town. He even has a strike against current employers SuperSport, netted for Ajax in the Telkom Knockout in 2012.
His very first top-flight goal came for Platinum Stars against Free State Stars in November 2007.
GROBLER’S GOALS IN SA VS TOPFLIGHT OPPONENTS
10 – Kaizer Chiefs
8 – Orlando Pirates
7 – Bloemfontein Celtic
6 – Baroka FC, Maritzburg United
5 – AmaZulu, Chippa United, Lamontville Golden Arrows
4 – Moroka Swallows, Platinum Stars
3 – BidVest Wits, Black Leopards, Highlands Park, Marumo Gallants, Mpumalanga Black Aces, Vasco da Gama
2 – Cape Town City, Free State Stars, Polokwane City, Stellenbosch FC, University of Pretoria
1 – Ajax Cape Town, Mamelodi Sundowns, Richards Bay, Royal AM, Sekhukhune United, SuperSport United, TS Galaxy.