Galaxy star targets Nedbank Cup top-scorer prize

TS Galaxy forward Zakhele Lepasa will hope to take the out-right lead in the Nedbank Cup scorers charts for 2019 by netting the winner in Saturday’s final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium against Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs.

Lepasa is currently on three goals, level with Lamontville Golden Arrows’ Knox Mutizwa, and for the Orlando Pirates player on loan at Galaxy, netting against the AmaKhosi would be a dream come true.

It would also be the first time that the leading scorer in the competition has netted more than three goals since Tendai Ndoro netted five for Orlando Pirates three years ago.

Lepasa has been nominated for both the Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament and Most Promising Player prize at Sunday’s Premier Soccer League awards ceremony.

“I am really motivated to finish off the tournament on a high note. Everyone in the team wants to do well in the final and create a bit of history,” Lepasa told reporters.

“I also think it will do well for my CV to win the award but the final on Saturday will decide a lot of things and we just have to do well as a team.”

Former Mamelodi Sundowns forward Nyasha Mushekwi holds the distinction of the most goals in a single Nedbank Cup season when he netted 10 in the 2012 campaign.

It is far and away the outstanding individual performance, with the Zimbabwe international netting against Powerlines FC (six goals), BidVest Wits (two), Maritzburg United (one) and Free State Stars (one) in the semifinals.

He could not find the back of the net in the decider though as Sundowns' Tshwane rivals SuperSport United lifted the trophy following a 2-0 win.

TOP-SCORERS IN THE NEDBANK CUP SINCE 2008

2008: 7 goals - Dumisani Ngwenya (AmaZulu)

2009: 3 goals - Franklin Cale and Thulani Serero (both Ajax Cape Town), Mark Haskins and Sandile Ndlovu (both Moroka Swallows), Phenyo Mongala and Mthokozisi Yende (both University of Pretoria), Thabo Mongalo (Black Leopards)

2010: 5 goals - Kingston Nkhatha (Free State Stars)

2011: 4 goals - Ayanda Dlamini (AmaZulu)

2012: 10 goals - Nyasha Mushekwi (Mamelodi Sundowns)

2013: 4 goals - Brian Amidu (Black Leopards)

2014: 5 goals - Musa Nyatama (Bloemfontein Celtic)

2015: 5 goals - Roggert Nyundu (Black Leopards)

2016: 5 goals - Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates)

2017: 3 goals - Jeremy Brockie (SuperSport United), Mogakolodi Ngele (BidVest Wits), Gustavo Paez (Kaizer Chiefs)