PSL top scorers

Seven strikers are in contention for the Golden Boot award at the halfway stage of the Premier League.

The award, which is dedicated to the late Lesley Manyathela, will be awarded in May.

The Times looks at sharp-shooters who have scored more than five goals so far this season, and considers whether any of them are capable of lifting the trophy.

9 goals: Knowledge Musona (Kaizer Chiefs)

The Zimbabwean got off to a great start by scoring in Chiefs' second match of the season. By the time Chiefs had played 10 league matches, Musona had scored six times to ensure that Chiefs were title contenders. He has scored only three times since then, his last goal being on December 22.

7 goals: Terror Fanteni (Ajax Cape Town)

His convincing 27 strikes in 67 matches while at the same club, between 2005 and 2008, are what got Fanteni drafted to the Bafana squad. He would probably be the leading scorer in the league by now were it not for a three-match ban in December. He scored twice in his first match back from suspension.

7 goals: Rudolf Bester (Maritzburg United)

His conversion from a midfielder to a striker this season has paid dividends for his performance, but unfortunately not for Maritzburg, who are still caught up in the relegation battle. Bester is a long-range specialist.

7 goals: Lehlohonolo Majoro (Amazulu)

Majoro is the least experienced of the league's top strikers - but that has not held him back. If he continues to produce the kind of performance he did when the Usuthu beat Sundowns 3-2, before the Christmas break, he could still top the charts.

6 goals: Sibusiso Zuma (Vasco da Gama)

A R200000-a-month flop at Sundowns two seasons ago, "Rhee" has returned to South African football eager to retire in style. The 35-year-old's contribution has gone a long way towards helping Premier League rookies Vasco stay clear of the drop zone, but he will have to work harder to double his tally.

6 goals: Mpho Maleka (Black Aces)

The goals have dried up for Maleka and his team has lost 13 of its 16 matches. Maleka has seemingly run out of gas, failing to lead the club as their captain and trusted marksman. He last scored in November in a 2-1 defeat by Golden Arrows.

6 goals: Katlego Mphela (Sundowns)

Last season's top scorer with 17 goals, Mphela hasn't been the same this time around. With coach Antonio Lopez Habas's rotation system, Mphela would have to triple his efforts to get anywhere close to last season's total.