One of the most important parts of being a great striker is your touch, more importantly, your first touch when receiving the ball.
Even the best strikers in the world will tell you that to be able to have a great (first) touch; you need to be able to control the ball swiftly.
FARPost runs the rule of the top five strikers who are currently plying their trade in Africa for the 2022/23 season.
THE TOP FIVE HITMAN
1. William Manondo [Caps United]
Manondo has been the man in the spotlight as far as the Zimbabwean football top-flight is concerned.
The striker has scored 15 goals for Caps United, who are currently placed 12th on the log standings with six games left to play.
He has been the driving force for his side; no player has fought harder, sweat the shirt more, and carried the team more than Manondo this campaign.
Brian Musa of Chicken Inn follows him with 11 goals.
2. Chawanangwa Kaonga [Silver Strikers] and Babatunde Adepoju [Nyasa Big Bullets]
Kaonga is one of the most feared forwards in the Malawian Super League, having banged 11 goals thus far.
Silver Strikers have played 23 games, and Kaonga has featured in 18 matches. His supreme confidence that helps him drive into opponent areas makes him stand out.
Meanwhile, Babatunde Adepoju of Nyasa Big Bullets has also found the back of the net on 11 occasions and has proved that he is a big game player who is always a threat till the final whistle.
One can say that Adepoju is full of potential and could become one of the best lethal strikers on the continent. Bullets have played 20 games so far.
NAMBIAN STRIKER SHALULILE CONTIUES TO SHINE
3. Peter Shalulile [Mamelodi Sundowns]
Mamelodi Sundowns hitman Shalulile has already amassed six goals in the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season from the nine games that his side has played already.
The Namibian international finished last campaign on 23 goals, just two goals shy from breaking Collins Mbesuma’s long-standing record of 25 league goals in a season.
The frontman will be hoping that his consistent performances will help him to reciprocate the same form he had in the last term.
His stellar displays have helped Bafana Ba Style to maintain the top spot with 19 points, five points clear of second-placed Orlando Pirates.
TANZANIA LEAGUE STAR?
4. Reliant Lusako [Namungo FC]
Lusako is fast becoming one of the most influential players in the Tanzanian Premier League at the moment; whenever he is on the field, his presence is felt.
He drives his team forward, rallies his troops, and leads by example; hence he has managed to find the back of the net five times in four matches that his side has played.
5. Andrew Phiri [FC Muza] and Lubinda Mundia [ Buildcon]
Performance-wise, Andrew Phiri has been in good form since the start of the Zambian Super league, having netted three goals in five matches played by FC Muza.
While Phiri may not score in every game, he dominates passion and always runs to retrieve balls for him to turn it forward into attack.
Muza are currently placed sixth on the table with eight points after winning two games, drawing two and losing one in the process.
Lubinda Mundia of Bulidcon has also scored three goals in four games. But his goals seem to go down the drain as his side only accumulated a point from those games.
Buildcon are languishing at the bottom of the log standings, having lost three games and drawing one since the commencement of the campaign.
Nevertheless, Mundia possesses the speed to catch the opponent unawares. His dribbling ability plays a major role in his effectiveness.
