Richards Bay, Polokwane City search for scoring boots

Richards Bay and newly promoted Polokwane City are two sides in the DStv Premiership who are yet to find their scoring boots this season and sit bottom of the table for goals scored.

Both have played 23 games to date and scored only 17 goals, one fewer than AmaZulu, Cape Town Spurs (both 23 games) and Moroka Swallows (24 games).

Richards Bay were the lowest scorers last season with 20 goals in their 30 games, so from that point of view they have done better this term, but only marginally.

The season before that, Sekhukhune United were thew lowest scorers with 21 goals in 30 games, and the fact they have 27 in 23 games this term shows their impressive improvement and settling in at topflight level.

Generally, DStv Premiership clubs have been better this term than in recent seasons.

The 375 goals scored in 182 games so far is an average of 2.06, which is better than the last few seasons.

Certainly, the 2023/24 clubs have been better than some of those who have gone before them.

Jomo Cosmos managed only 13 goals as they were bundled out of the top flight in 2007/08 in a season where their scoring average was less than a half a goal per game.

They were kept scoreless in an incredible 21 of their 30 matches, and at one stage were involved in five 0-0 draws in a row. In all they had nine that season.

Anthony Laffor was their leading scorer that campaign with three goals, two of which were from the penalty-spot!

You might think it was just a poor squad, but there were some decent names at Ezenkosi and some who either had already forged a solid reputation, or who would go on to do so.

Laffor, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Dikgang Mabalane, Morgan Gould, Valery Nahayo and Dipsey Selolwane were just some of their leading stars.

The second lowest tally in a season is the 16 which Bloemfontein Celtic scored in the 2016/17.

Despite their paltry tally, they actually finished 12th, not where they would want to be but respectable enough.

They won only five of their 30 games, but 14 draws kept them afloat, an incredible 10 of those being 0-0. The other four were 1-1.

Lowest goals tally in a 30-game DStv Premiership season

2002/03 - African Wanderers 21

2003/04 – Jomo Cosmos 21

2004/05 – Wits University 24

2005/06 – Classic 23

2006/07 – AmaZulu, Benoni Premier United 22

2007/08 - Jomo Cosmos 13

2008/09 – Bay United 26

2009/10 – Mpumalanga Black Aces 20

2010/11 – Mpumalanga Black Aces 19

2011/12 – Jomo Cosmos 24

2012/13 – AmaZulu 22

2013/14 – University of Pretoria 25

2014/15 – Chippa United 23

2015/16 - Jomo Cosmos 20

2016/17 – Bloemfontein Celtic 16

2017/18 – Ajax Cape Town 21

2018/19 – Maritzburg United 22

2019/20 – Chippa United 18

2020/21 – Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 19

2021/22 – Sekhukhune United 21

2022/23 – Richards Bay 20

2023/24 – Richards Bay, Polokwane City 17*

* Both from 23 games played.