How watching Bundesliga, La Liga helped Peter Shalulile

Mamelodi Sundowns’ striker Peter Shalulile has revealed how watching the Premier League, Bundesliga and La Liga games helped him score a record-equalling goal in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) on Wednesday.

Prior to Wednesday, the Namibian striker had seen limited action under Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, who often introduced him very late in matches. His lack of game time came amid reports of a potential move to Tunisian giants Esperance, which have recently subsided. Consequently, his few appearances have severely limited his scoring opportunities.

The 31-year-old finally received a rare start for Sundowns as they faced Magesi FC in the league. He made use of that, scoring a historic goal which he attributed to long hours of watching European major leagues.

Shalulile told Sundowns media that he analysed games, especially how defenders mark strikers.

“I have been looking at strikers this whole month in the EPL, Bundesliga and Spanish league. I noticed that defenders were aware of your right boot, so I was trying to finish with my left foot in training. It eventually connected, and it went in,” he explained.

The Namibian was so determined to score that he started implementing what he observed from the major leagues.

“It has come from training. We were training for the same goal where I hit the first touch. I hit a volley, and it went exactly where I wanted it to go. It means a lot because now it puts me amongst the top goal scorers of all time,” added Shalulile.

The 2016 and 2022 PSL Golden Boot Awardee scored in Sundowns’ hard-fought 2-0 victory over Magesi FC to make it 129 career goals, at par with Kaizer Chiefs legend Siyabonga Nombethe.

During the Betway Premiership game, midfielder Jayden Adams opened the scoring for Sundowns in the 73rd minute before Shalulile made sure of the victory three minutes before full-time.

Such a feat did not go unnoticed back home in Namibia, where the former Highlands Park FC forward is originally from.

The Namibian Football Association has released a statement, acknowledging Shalulile’s achievement.

“On behalf of the entire Namibian Football Association and indeed the entire football-loving community in Namibia, we extend our warmest congratulations to our captain, Peter Shalulile, for equalling the all-time top goal-scoring record of 129 goals in the South African Premier Soccer League,” the statement reads.

With the league still young in South Africa, the forward is set to break clear from Nomvethe and create his own piece of PSL history.