STATS: Breaking Down Peter Shalulile’s 100 Goals

Peter Shalulile scored his 100th top-flight goal for a PSL top-flight club this past weekend, with a brace against CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. In doing so, he became the seventh player in PSL history to reach the landmark, joining Siya Nomvethe, Daniel Mudau, Mabhuti Khanyeza, Tico-Tico Bucuane, Collins Mbesuma and the latest inductee Bradley Grobler.

2 – This is the first time in PSL history two players reach the 100-goal landmark in the same season.

Shalulile’s goal record is frightening when compared to the efforts of the other six centurions. The 100th goal came in his 197th appearance (starts & subs), making him the fastest player to reach the landmark. This is his 8th season since joining Highlands Park, but only his 6th playing top-flight football. Only Daniel Mudau (seven PSL seasons) took less time to reach 100 goals. Of course, football didn’t begin in 1996/97 with the introduction of the PSL, and Mudau has more goals overall.

172 – Overall, Daniel Mudau is the leading scorer at Sundowns with 172 goals (62 before the PSL era, 110 after the PSL era).

Shalulile has scored against every single opponent he’s faced more than once except for Petro de Luanda. That’s 28 different teams that he’s scored against in Highlands Park or Sundowns colours. Kaizer Chiefs are his favourite local opponent, with seven goals scored against them in 11 appearances (2 at Highlands Park, 5 at Sundowns). On a continental level, Al Ahly (5) and CR Belouizdad (4) are the teams that fear him the most.

It’s no surprise that the majority of his goals have come in the league, but Shalulile has been an all-rounder in terms of competitions. His milestone goals are a testament to that.

His first top-flight goal came in the league (v Polokwane City), his 50th goal came in the MTN8 (v Kaizer Chiefs) and his 100th goal came in the CAF Champions League (v CR Belouizdad). There’s every chance that he could get close or even break the all-time record for a PSL player in CAF competitions. Themba Zwane is the joint-top scorer for a PSL club in CAF (with Surprise Moriri on 15), but this season may prove too early. Yet, he’ll still have more opportunities should he play for Sundowns next season.

He is just the second Sundowns player in PSL history to net 20+ goals across all competitions in three consecutive seasons, after Daniel Mudau (98/99 – 00/01). His side still have at least five more games remaining in the season, with the potential for three more if they reach the CAF Champions League final. So we could still see another 5 – 10 goals before the campaign ends. If Sundowns are to lift the CAF Champions League trophy, Shalulile, and his goalscoring feats will be key.