The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
IT seems Tinashe Balakasi has an insatiable appetite for goals.
He simply cannot stop scoring and has now set himself an ambitious target.
The Simba Bhora striker is the Ruyamuro Northern Region Soccer League top goalscorer with 29 goals.
In addition to clinching the Golden Boot Award, the 31-year-old is also now the hot favourite to win the coveted Soccer Star of the Year Award after his side clinched the championship in style at Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva on Saturday.
Simba Bhora thumped Commando Bullets 3-0 to reach an unassailable 72 points.
Second-placed Herentals U20 can only reach 71 if they win their last match of the season.
Balakasi was on target for Simba Bhora before coach Arthur Tutani pulled the gangly striker out in the second half.
His replacement, Dean Chunga, and Simbarashe Maramwidze then scored the other goals for the Shamva-based side.
However, Balakasi was left disappointed as he felt last weekend’s game gave him a perfect chance to hit the 30-goal mark.
He has already broken another long-standing record.
Kasimero Chimbadzwa held the record of the most goals in a season since 2014 when he banged 22 goals for ZRP Football Club.
That record has now been shattered by Balakasi, who is now eyeing the 30-goal mark.
“I am ecstatic because as a team we have achieved something big. Winning the title is something that other teams tried to achieve but failed,” Balakasi told The Sunday Mail Sport.
Simba Bhora play Karoi United away in their last game of the season on Saturday.
It’s a dead rubber for Simba Bhora, but for Balakasi it’s another chance to cement his place in the history books of Northern Region Division One football.
“Being the top goalscorer in this competitive league is also an awesome achievement,” he said.
“But I wouldn’t have achieved this if it were not for my teammates who helped me and kept on urging me to push even harder.”
Balakasi enjoys the company of veterans who include Ronald Chitiyo, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Ali Sadiki, goalkeeper Simba Chinani and skipper Brighton Tuwaya in a dressing room that oozes with both talent and experience.
Balakasi is a former CAPS United and Harare City striker.
While life was difficult for him at the two clubs, the Budiriro-based star has settled well in Shamva.
