Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot

The Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot is an annual association football award presented by the Premier Soccer League to the leading goalscorer in the South African Premier Division.[1] The award, colloquially known as the PSL Golden Boot or simply the Golden Boot, has been presented since the inception of the post-apartheid format of the league in 1996. It was named in 2003 in honour of Lesley Manyathela, a South African international footballer and former recipient of the award who died in a motor vehicle collision in August of that year.[2]

Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot
Awarded forThe leading goalscorer in a given Premier Division season
CountrySouth Africa
Presented byPremier Soccer League
First awarded1997
Last awarded2023
Currently held byPeter Shalulile & Khanyisa Mayo
Most awardsPeter Shalulile (3)

Wilfred Mugeyi was the first recipient of the award after he scored 22 goals for Bush Bucks in the inaugural Premier Division season.[3] He is one of five players to have scored 20 or more goals in a season alongside Pollen Ndlanya, Collins Mbesuma, Siyabonga Nomvethe and Peter Shalulile.[3] Mbesuma holds the record for the most goals scored in a single campaign following his return of 25 goals for Kaizer Chiefs in the 2004–05 season.[4] He was also the first player to have won the award more than once, having claimed the trophy for a second time during his spell with Mpumalanga Black Aces in 2016, while Shalulile equalled this record in 2022, and broke it the following year.[4][5][6] In doing so, the latter also became the only player to have won the award in back-to-back seasons.

Bernard Parker holds the record for the fewest goals needed to win the award, with his return of 10 goals for Kaizer Chiefs in the 2013–14 season earning him the accolade.[7] The award has been shared three times in the Premier Division's history, an occurrence which first took place in the 2017–18 season after Rodney Ramagalela of Polokwane City and Percy Tau of Mamelodi Sundowns both ended the campaign on 11 goals.[7] Players from Moroka Swallows and Kaizer Chiefs have won the award the most times, with each club having four unique winners.[3]

Winners

Bernard Parker (pictured here during his time with Dutch side Twente) holds the record for the fewest goals needed to win the award. His tally of 10 goals for Kaizer Chiefs earned him the Golden Boot in 2014.
Key
Player (X)Name of the player and number of times they had won the award at that point (if more than one)
Indicates multiple award winners in the same season
Denotes the club were South African Premier Division champions in the same season
§Denotes the record for the most goals scored in a South African Premier Division season
Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot winners
SeasonPlayerNationalityClubGoalsRef
1996–97Wilfred Mugeyi  ZimbabweBush Bucks22[3]
1997–98Keryn Jordan  South AfricaManning Rangers11[3]
1998–99Pollen Ndlanya  South AfricaKaizer Chiefs21[3]
1999–2000Dennis Lota  ZambiaOrlando Pirates18[3]
2000–01Gilbert Mushangazhike  ZimbabweManning Rangers19[3]
2001–02Ishmael Maluleke  South AfricaManning Rangers18[3]
2002–03Lesley Manyathela  South AfricaOrlando Pirates18[3]
2003–04Jackie Ledwaba  South AfricaZulu Royals14[3]
2004–05Collins Mbesuma  ZambiaKaizer Chiefs25§[4]
2005–06Mame Niang  SenegalMoroka Swallows14[8]
2006–07Christopher Katongo  ZambiaJomo Cosmos15[9]
2007–08James Chamanga  ZambiaMoroka Swallows14[10]
2008–09Richard Henyekane  South AfricaGolden Arrows19[11]
2009–10Katlego Mphela  South AfricaMamelodi Sundowns17[3]
2010–11Knowledge Musona  ZimbabweKaizer Chiefs17[3]
2011–12Siyabonga Nomvethe  South AfricaMoroka Swallows20[12]
2012–13Katlego Mashego  South AfricaMoroka Swallows13[13]
2013–14Bernard Parker  South AfricaKaizer Chiefs10[14]
2014–15Moeketsi Sekola  South AfricaFree State Stars14[15]
2015–16Collins Mbesuma (2)  ZambiaMpumalanga Black Aces14[16]
2016–17Lebogang Manyama  South AfricaCape Town City13[17]
2017–18Rodney Ramagalela  South AfricaPolokwane City11[18]
2017–18Percy Tau  South AfricaMamelodi Sundowns11[18]
2018–19Mwape Musonda  ZambiaBlack Leopards16[19]
2019–20Gabadinho Mhango  MalawiOrlando Pirates16[20]
2019–20Peter Shalulile  NamibiaHighlands Park16[20]
2020–21Bradley Grobler  South AfricaSuperSport United16[21]
2021–22Peter Shalulile (2)  NamibiaMamelodi Sundowns23[22]
2022–23Peter Shalulile (3)  NamibiaMamelodi Sundowns12[6]
2022–23Khanyisa Mayo  South AfricaCape Town City12[6]

Awards won by nationality

CountryTotal
 South Africa16
 Zambia6
 Zimbabwe3
 Namibia3
 Senegal1
 Malawi1

Awards by club

Mame Niang (pictured here during his time with Norwegian side Viking) is one of four Moroka Swallows players to have won the Golden Boot award.
ClubTotal
Moroka Swallows4
Kaizer Chiefs4
Manning Rangers3
Orlando Pirates3
Mamelodi Sundowns4
Orlando Pirates3
Bush Bucks1
Cape Town City2
Free State Stars1
Golden Arrows1
Jomo Cosmos1
Mpumalanga Black Aces1
Polokwane City1
Zulu Royals1
Black Leopards1
Highlands Park1
SuperSport United1

References