Tashreeq Matthews, a young forward, is starting to live up to his early billing and might be knocking on the door of Bafana Bafana soon, as his goal contributions are higher than any South African player in the domestic leagues or abroad this season. Matthews, who joined Borussia Dortmund’s reserve side in 2018 from Ajax Cape Town, currently plays for IK Sirius in Sweden, and has an impressive 16 goal contributions this season.
This is higher than any South African player that has been called up to Hugo Broos’ recent squads. Matthews has been on loan to Dutch U21 side Utrecht in January 2019, and then back to German outfit Dortmund at the end of that season. He was then sent out on loan again to Swedish top flight side Helsingborgs IF in August 2019. After his loan spell at Helsingborg, he joined Varbergs BoIS in the Allsvenskan in January 2020, and then moved to IK Sirius. In 26 matches for Sirius this season, Matthews has netted nine goals and he notched up seven assists.
The closest South African player to Matthews in terms of goal contributions is Bongokuhle Hlongwane, with eight goals and three assists in 29 matches for his Major League Soccer club Minnesota United. Percy Tau had a return of 10 goals in 41 matches across all competitions for Al Ahly last season, while Fagray Lakay scored 10 goals in 30 league games for Egyptian side Pyramids last season.
Khanyisa Mayo scored 12 goals in 27 matches for Cape Town City last term, as he finished as the joint-top goal-scorer in the DStv Premiership, while Cassius Mailula scored nine goals in 17 league matches and an additional six goals in 10 CAF Champions League games for Mamelodi Sundowns last season before he was sold to MLS side Toronto FC. Moroka Swallows striker Tshegofatso Mabasa has scored six goals in eight league games and is currently the top goal-scorer in the Premiership.
Matthews was capped only once by the South African U20 national team and scored on his debut in a 2-1 win over England in a friendly international at age 16 years and 11 months. His impressive goal contributions this season suggest that he could be a great addition to the Bafana Bafana squad.
