Pirates' Top five greatest strikers in PSL era

Orlando Pirates striker Frank Mhango has proved to be a reliable goalscorer for the Soweto giants this season.

The Malawi international, is the striker Bucs have been missing for a long time as he could be the man, who inspires them to their maiden major trophy since 2014.

A striker is often chiefly judged by their overall scoring, while a player's success or greatness is sometimes judged based on the number of trophies he has won.

Pirates have had prolific hitmen, who played an instrumental role in helping the club clinch trophies in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) era.

Here are Pirates' top five greatest strikers since 1996:

POLLEN NDLANYA
Trophies: 2

The retired marksman joined the Buccaneers in 2000 having had two stints with their arch-rivals, Kaizer Chiefs in the 1990s.

The man nicknamed Trompies netted 15 league goals during the 2000/01 season as Pirates lifted the PSL title under the guidance of Gordon Igesund.

Prior to that, Trompies had played an important role in helping Pirates clinch the BP Top 8 Cup (MTN8) as he scored in the final against Ajax Cape Town.

The former Bafana Bafana international left the Buccaneers in 2002 having netted 21 goals in 35 league starts.

DENNIS LOTA
Trophies: 2

The Zambian legend secured a move to Pirates in 1998 following a successful spell with Swiss club FC Sion.

Nicknamed Chesa Mpama, Lota scooped the league’s Golden Boot award with 18 goals in his second season with Bucs and he also scored five goals in cup matches.

Chesa Mpama then netted 10 goals across all competitions for the Buccaneers as they clinched a league and cup double (PSL title and BP Top 8 Cup) during the 2000/01 season.

Lota, who sadly passed away in February 2014, left Pirates at the end of the following campaign and he is considered to be one of the club's best strikers in the PSL era.

BENNI MCCARTHY
Trophies: 3

The South African football icon was snapped up by Pirates on a free transfer in 2011 after he parted ways with English club, West Ham United.

McCarthy quickly established himself as a key player for the Buccaneers as he scored 13 goals across all competitions during the 2011/12 campaign.

His goalscoring exploits helped the Soweto giants secure a domestic treble with the team winning the PSL title, Telkom Knockout Cup as well as MTN8.

The Bafana Bafana legend announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2012/13 season.

LESLEY MANYATHELA
Trophies: 3

The former Bafana Bafana international was signed by Pirates from Dynamos in 2000 as an 18-year-old striker.

Nicknamed Slow Poison, Manyathela was part of the Bucs team which clinched the league and cup double (PSL title and BP Top 8 Cup) in his first season with the Buccaneers.

The 2002/03 season saw Manyathela scoop the Golden Boot award with 18 goals and he inspired Pirates to the league trophy, before he sadly passed away in a car crash in August 2003.

The PSL award for the top goalscorer was renamed the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot in his honour and Pirates retired the number 19 jersey which he had previously worn.

JERRY SIKHOSANA
Trophies: 4

The legendary South African striker, who was affectionately known as the Legs of Thunder, was already a Pirates player when the PSL started in 1996.

Sikhosana scored as Bucs defeated Qwa Qwa Stars in the 1996 BP Top 8 Cup final and he helped the team clinch the 1996 Bob Save Supa Bowl (Nedbank Cup).

The Legs of Thunder then had spells with Chinese side Yunnan Hongta and AmaZulu FC between 1999 and 2000, before rejoining Pirates ahead of the 2000/01 campaign.

Sikhosana helped Bucs lift the 2000 BP Top 8 Cup, before scoring as they clinched the PSL title with a 3-0 win over Ajax Cape Town at the end of the 2000/01 season and he left the club for Tembisa Classic.