SuperSport United’s Bradley Grobler has achieved a remarkable milestone
in his career, becoming the sixth South African Premier Soccer League
(PSL) player to score 100 league goals.
The 35-year-old forward reached the milestone after scoring a stunning
volley from a penalty that rebounded back to him following a save by
Renaldo Leaner, in a 2-0 win over Maritzburg United.
Grobler joins a prestigious list of legendary strikers such as Collins
Mbesuma (103), Manuel ‘Tico-Tico’ Bucuane (107), Mabhuti Khenyeza (110),
Daniel Mudau (110) and Siyabonga Nomvethe (123) in the PSL 100-goal club.
Speaking to SAFM Sport, Grobler revealed that he was unaware of his record
in front of goal until he was told he was about to enter the 100-goal club
when he reached 95 goals.
“You know it’s something that never crossed my mind until probably when I
got about 95 goals and people started talking about it and counting,”
Grobler said.
“And up to that point I had absolutely no idea. But yeah, from about 95
goals everyone started counting down, including my dad (Swallows legend
Les Grobler), you know he’s the last person that would have ever kind of
put pressure on me. But he was also quite excited about it as well, so
going into every game I would be reminded there is so many goals to go. So
it was something that came as a big of surprise to me but really nice to
have got there,” he added.
The Johannesburg native went on to say that it’s a dream come true to be
among those prolific strikers in the century club and has set his sights
on breaking the record of 123 goals scored by Nomvethe.
“Before I started professionally, some of them just after I started
professional football were big names and guys that I looked up to, I
wanted to be like them and I wanted to emulate what they have done,” he
continued.
“And to sit there and have my name alongside those guys is a dream come
true if I could say, very honoured. Now the next one is to try to catch
number one (Nomvethe), that’s the goal. I still feel I have plenty of time
to play. I feel great, so that’s the next target,” Grobler said.
Grobler is also the joint-top leading goalscorer in the current DStv
Premiership season, tied with Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile on
nine goals.
