AFTER 29 seasons since the Premier Soccer League (PSL) was established, Lamontville Golden Arrows striker, Junior Dion, is on course to become the first player from the Ivory Coast to win the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals.
Dion (27) leads the way with goals in the Betway Premiership as he has scored 14 in the 2025/2026 season. He is followed by Iqraam Rayners of Mamelodi Sundowns with 12, Relebohile Mofokeng and Brayan Leon of Orlando Pirates and Sundowns with 10 each.
Because Sundowns have wrapped up the 2025/26 Premiership season, Rayners and Leon no longer have a chance to catch up with Dion.
Mofokeng will have to score four goals on Saturday when the Pirates face Orbit College at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, at 3 pm, to overtake Dion.
On the other hand, Dion still has the chance to increase the number of his goals in the season-ending game as they will play against TS Galaxy this Saturday at 3 pm, at King Zwelithini Stadium, Mlaza.
The striker who hails from the Ivory Coast, joined the Golden Arrows at the beginning of this season after being dismissed by MaZulu FC and returning from a loan at the Marumo Gallants.
His goals helped the team coached by Manqoba Mngqithi to secure a place in MTN8 next season as they are in sixth place in the Premiership log with 40 points.
Since the 1996/97 season, 12 foreign players have won the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot, which was named after the late Pirates and Bafana Bafana star striker, Lesley “Slow Poison” Manyathela. Manyathela passed away in 2003 in a car accident.
He went on to score 18 goals in the 2002/03 season as Pirates won the Premiership title.
Wilfred “Silver Fox” Mugeyi from Zimbabwe was the only foreign player to win this award in the 96/97 season scoring 22 goals.
Peter Shalulile from Namibia and Collins Mbesuma from Zambia, they have won this competition three times, and twice separately.
All foreign players who have won the Lesley Manyathela award:
1996/97 – Wilfred Mugeyi (Zimbabwe)
1999/200 – Dennis Lota (Zambia)
2000/01 – Gilbert Mushangazike (Zimbabwe)
2004/05 – Collins Mbesuma (Zambia)
2005/06 – Mame Niang (Senegal)
2006/07 – Christopher Katongo (Zambia)
2007/08 – James Chamanga (Zambia)
2010/11 – Knowledge Musona (Zimbabwe)
2015/16 – Collins Mbesuma (Zambia)
2018/19 – Mwape Musonda (Zambia)
2019/20 – Gabadinho Mhango (Malawi) and Peter Shalulile (Namibia)
2021/22 no-2022/23 – Peter Shalulile
2024/25 – Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Brazil)
