Matchsticks incident ? can sangomas bring about a goal drought?

The Mamelodi Sundowns and Brave Warriors forward Peter Shalulile has recently faced a notable decline in his form.

Once feared by defenders across the continent, the 30-year-old Namibian striker has found it difficult to find the back of the net for a few months now.

His struggles have not gone unnoticed by fans, with some tracing the beginning of his goal-drought for club and country back to the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates last year.

During that game, Shalulile was seen dropping matchsticks on the pitch, which the referee promptly removed.

Since that incident, a number of fans believe that the Namibian striker has lost his scoring touch, with the rumoured influence of sangomas being insinuated.

During the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament held in January 2024 in Ivory Coast, where he captained Namibia, Shalulile went in with high hopes as his nation’s top player. The Brave Warriors rode Deon Hotto’s 1-0 winning strike against Tunisia all the way into the round of 16, although their captain failed to score a goal in the tournament, adding to the growing concern about his form.

Since his debut as a 20-year-old in September 2014 under Ricardo Mannetti, Shalulile has become the all-time leading goal-scorer for Namibia (16 in 49 in internationals). Concerns has however been mounting since his last goal for the national team (against Burundi in June 2023), which was 12 matches ago.

Sport Wrap yesterday spoke with Brave Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin, who stated that the national team skipper continues to add value to the team.

"Peter Shalulile is more than just a goal-scorer for us. His leadership both on and off the pitch is invaluable, especially during this transitional period for the national team.”

Benjamin remains confident that Shalulile will bounce back from what is merely a rough patch.

“He’s the all-time leading goal scorer for Namibia, and his role as a leader and mentor to younger players is crucial,” Benjamin added.



Club fortunes

It’s not just the Namibian national team that Shalulile is held in the highest regard. Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, Manqoba Mngqithi, also praised the award-winning forward despite his recent lack of goals.

In an interview with Briefly News, Mngqithi highlighted Shalulile's dedication and work ethic, particularly in Sundowns’ recent CAF Champions League win against Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland.

"Peter put in an impressive effort, and that's why we continue to support him," Mngqithi said. The coach remains optimistic that Shalulile will regain his confidence and scoring form soon, believing that once he scores again, the goals will start flowing.

Shalulile’s dip in striking form has not been a sudden development. According to Soccer Laduma, the Namibian forward’s goal-scoring numbers have been gradually declining.

Last season, he scored just 15 goals in all competitions, a significant drop from the preceding season’s stand-out total of 23.

This year, he has struggled even more, finishing the season with only 9 goals, placing him sixth on the PSL top goal scorers – far from his record-breaking performances in earlier years.

Tighter marking by defenders, injuries and age could also be factors in his recent struggles. Shalulile, who will be turning 31 in October, might be experiencing the early effects of a natural decline.



Honours list

Despite his recent form, Shalulile’s career achievements are still undeniable.

He is the only player to have won the PSL Golden Boot three times. His most prolific season was in 2021/22 when he netted 23 goals, just two shy of Collins Mbesuma’s record of 25 goals, and was named PSL Player of the Year twice in a row.

In April 2023 he joined the list of players who have bagged 100-plus PSL goals; he has been in PSL-winning teams four times and has won the MTN 8 as well as the Nedbank Cup.