FORMER Highlanders skipper and 2002 Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year Dazy Kapenya has bemoaned the deteriorating standards of strikers in the country and called on league sponsors to put a minimum number of goals per season for one to be eligible for the Golden Boot prize.

The legendary Amahlolanyama defender and former Warriors player who featured in the 2004 African Nations Cup finals under Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa, believes a bait from the sponsors would help psyche up strikers to be ever eager for goals, unlike what is happening now where players know that any number of goals at the top will assure him a fat cheque.

Kapenya’s call comes amid a shocking reality that this year’s Golden Boot winner might turn out to be the worst in the history of the Premier Soccer League if not since Independence in top flight football.

Ageless CAPS United hitman Leonard Tsipa, who took the gong exactly 12 years ago with  18 goals, is leading the pack having scored 11 goals this season while Hwange’s Gift Mbweti, is on nine and still very much in the running to win this year’s Golden Boot award.

Charles Sibanda and Kuda Musharu, who were the joint winners with 12 apiece in 2014 have the worst record in the Premiership era.

“It’s embarrassing as a country that with only a game before the season ends, our leading scorer is on 11 goals and in the running for a fat cheque, this is a mockery to football.

“I know some people would want to argue and say it’s a big plus to defenders but to me that is not the reason. Our strikers need to pull up their socks and justify why they call themselves strikers,” said Kapenya.