'For No10, I did well'

While Moroka Swallows striker Katlego Mashego quietly accepted his award on Sunday night for finishing as the PSL's top scorer with 13 goals, criticism over the low tally was the bigger talking point.

But it is a fair return for a player who trained on his own during pre-season and only joined the Dube Birds three weeks into the new campaign. But the fact remains that his strike total is the lowest winning haul in the PSL era.

Mashego defended his efforts in front of goal during a campaign in which Swallows were crowned MTN8 champions in September, but won't be able to defend the cup following a ninth-place finish.

"I should be happy with 13 goals because I never played as an out-and-out striker, I played just behind [the strikers]," Mashego said. "And 10 goals for a No10 is a good return. I scored three more."

The former Orlando Pirates and Supersport United league winner ensured that, for a second successive season, a Swallows forward walked away with the Golden Boot.

Siyabonga Nomvethe scored 20 goals last season as the side finished runners-up to the Bucs.

Mashego said team-mate and veteran striker Nomvethe - who missed a chunk of the first half of the season because of injuries, prompting Swallows to sign Mashego - would again have been among the top scorers had he been fit.

"Last season he was able to play in [almost] all the games and had it been the same this season he would have scored more than I did.

"Our strikers in South Africa should be scoring more goals, but there are different factors that contribute to the lack of goals."

He pointed to the different soccer balls used throughout the season as one of the factors.

"In the PSL we use different balls, maybe even 16 different ones," Mashego said.

"You go to Chippa United and they are using a Kappa ball and you go to the Free State and they are using an Umbro ball. That plays a role, but it is not an excuse. If you have played a bit you will know that the balls aren't all the same."

It might have been the worst finish for a PSL top-scorer, but Mashego isn't looking back.

The striker has been included in the 24-man Bafana squad to take on Lesotho in an international friendly on Sunday, which will be followed by two 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Central African Republic and Ethiopia.

Mashego is delighted. "I've always eyed a call-up back into the national team," he said. "I looked at Nomvethe, he was 35 when he finished as the top scorer and was called into the national team.

"It was expected and I am glad it came. Now I have a chance to do something for Bafana."

Mashego is one of three strikers coach Gordon Igesund will choose from for the crucial qualifiers away from home. The others are Tokelo Rantie of Swedish side Malmö FF and Kaizer Chiefs' Bernard Parker.

Bafana are second in their group and trail leaders Ethiopia by two points after three matches. CAR and Botswana are third and fourth respectively.