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Lawrence Maphosa, Guest Writer
WHEN Caps United staged a dramatic comeback on Match Day 26 at Rufaro Stadium in Harare against Highlanders, William Manondo led the Caps United strike-force from the front by scoring the first goal from the penalty spot.
There was something special hidden from the celebrations as no one from the football fraternity appeared to appreciate the milestone Manondo was marching towards a lifetime feat.
Due to the poor keeping of football statistics in this country many, including the player himself, may have missed the fact Manondo had notched his 95th career goal, and the highest number among active players today.
He joined some of the country legends like Norman Komani, Norman Maroto, Gilbert Zulu, Ralph Matema, Maronga Nyangela, Lazarus Muhoni, Limited Chikafa, Alois Bunjira to name but a few notables who have scored more than 90 career goals.
The list also has Gift “Ghetto” Mpariwa (Dynamos), Phillip Marufu (Chapungu United), Leonard Tsipa (Caps United), Max Makanza (Dynamos), Agent ‘‘Ajira’’ Sawu (Zimbabwe Saints), Albert Mbano (Lancashire Steel), Gift “Guava” Kamuriwo (Black Rhinos), Lloyd Hlahla (Masvingo United) and Murape Murape(Dynamos).
The list also has a few strikers who did well in their respective clubs besides scoring 90 plus, Walter Musona before he left FC Platinum last season, was and is still the club’s all-time top goal-scorer with 49 goals overtaking Rodwell Chinyengetere in the process, while Mkhokheli Dube became the 50th player to score an FC Platinum goal, with Khama Billiat achieving the same feat for Yadah Stars (50th player for the club to score).
The team of the moment Simba Bhora has Tymon Machope (16) as their all-time top goal-scorer overtaking Tinashe Balakasi (10) who had a stint in Botswana during the first half of the season, while Walter Musona (10) is now the second best top scorer for Simba Bhora, he is chasing a milestone for the second time with his third Zimbabwean club.
Lynoth Chikuhwa of Highlanders took his tally at Bosso to 25 same as Chipo Tsodzo. Among the active players at Bosso, Chikuhwa is the highest goalscorer.
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Lynoth Chikuhwa
Ralph Matema in recent years has scored the highest number — 65.
Obriel Chirinda left a record at Bulawayo Chiefs of being the club’s all-time top goal-scorer in just two seasons with 21, wiping away Arthur Musiyiwa’s record of three seasons (16) and he became the first Bulawayo Chiefs player to score a hat-trick, while Innocent Mucheneka is still chasing that one goal for Chicken Inn to equal Tendai Ndoro’s all-time top scorer for the club of 23.
Khama Billiat is chasing the same record at Yadah Stars that Matema set during his stay at the club of 23 goals. Khama is now the second-best all-time top scorer at Yadah Stars with 10 goals, he now needs 13 goals to clear Matema’s mark, while Junior Zindoga remains the only player from Yadah Stars to score a hat-trick, having done so last season in a league tie at Baobab Stadium.
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Khama Billiat
Manondo now finds himself just five short of his century of goals while he is the leading scorer in the new Chibuku Super Cup with 20 goals, 19 for Harare City and just one for his present club Caps United.
He still has a chance to add more since his club is still in the running in the tournament this season.
He has scored 95 goals in league and cup games for Kiglon, FC Platinum, Gunners, Harare City and Caps United.
Manondo’s Premiership goal count got off the mark with a goal on Match Day 20 of 2010 when Kiglon drew 1-1 with Bantu Rovers in Bulawayo. Manondo has so far scored 38 goals for his new club Caps United, 37 league and one cup goal.
It would be a great tribute to a proven goal-scorer if he scores five to make it 100 goals.
Very few players in the Zimbabwe league have scored 100 goals or more.
Matema missed the century last season by only three goals before retiring, while Hwange’s Gilbert Zulu was the last centurian with 110 goals to his credit when he called time on his career, some years ago.