Former Betway Premiership strikers Therlo Moosa, Bethuel Muzeu, and Jaedin Rhodes are among attackers tussling for the Motsepe Foundation Championship golden boot accolade.
The 2025/26 NFD season is reaching the business end with teams playing matches of consequence both in the title race and in the grueling relegation battle.
In the race to win the league and gain promotion to the Premiership next season, Kruger United, Milford FC, Cape Town City FC, Hungry Lions FC, and Casric Stars are all making up the top five that are staging a real push for the title.
United are currently sitting at the summit of the league table with 40 points, holding a three-point advantage on second-placed Milford, who have accumulated 37 points in 21 matches played.
The Mpumalanga-based side gave their title ambitions a major boost this past weekend after defeating title-chasing Milford 1-0, promising an exciting last nine games of the campaign.
In the relegation fight, former top-flight sides Baroka FC and Black Leopards are battling it out to save their status in the second-tier. The two Limpopo-based teams have had a dismal run, which has seen them occupy 16th and 15th positions respectively.
BETHUEL MUZEU HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT GOAL SCORER IN THE PAST FEW SEASONS
Black Leopards are sitting at the basement of the log after collecting only 16 points in 20 games, while Baroka are positioned above them with 18 points. Meanwhile, Midlands Wanderers FC, The Bees, and Gomora United are also in the mix of teams that could be relegated to the ABC Motsepe League at the end of the season.
The tight competition has also translated to individual performances, with strikers fighting for the golden boot win. As it stands, Cape Town City forward is leading the charts alongside Ntuthuko Mlotshwa and Bethuel Muzeu, who are on eight goals.
Muzeu of Black Leopards has been a notable, consistent scorer in the past few seasons in the Motsepe Foundation after reaching double digits last season, with Muzomuhle Khanyi winning the award with 18 goals.
Other players that are chasing the top scorer honours are Kruger United striker Khethukuthula Ndlovu, Rian Petersen of Hungry Lions FC, and Jaedin Rhodes, who are on seven goals, while Hungry Lions attacker Ronaldo Van Neel and Upington City FC’s Rowan Visagie are on six goals.
RELATED STORY: CT City announce the signing of ex-Spurs forward