With just one game to the end of the 2023/24 Primus National League season, the race for the top scorer award is only getting intense.So far, four players are in contention and two of them namely Elijah Ani of Bugesera FC and Victor Mbaoma of APR FC are in the fore front with 15 goals apiece. Three of the players namely Ani, Mbaoma and Abdul Rahman Rukundo are targeting the top scoring laurel on their debut season in the Rwandan league.The 2022/23 season saw Cameroonian forward Leandre Onana who was at Rayon Sports winning the top scorer award with 16 goals. It is clear that either Ani or Mbaoma will equal or break that record with just one game left to play.Times Sport takes a look at the players who are vying for the golden boot as the season comes to a close on Sunday.Elijah Ani (Bugesera FC, 15 goals)Bugesera FC have been poor in the domestic league this season but it didn’t stop their star striker Elijah Ani to hit the form where he has netted 15 goals in the 24 league games. He is tied at the top of the scoring charts with countryman Victor Mbaoma who features for APR FC.This is the second time in two years that a player from a relegation threatened team is vying for the goal king award. In the 2021/22 season, Etoile de l'Est finished bottom of the table and were relegated but their striker Samuel Nwosu Chukwudi scored 13 goals and was second in the goal king race behind Shabani Hussein of AS Kigali who scored 15.Bugesera have a must win game against Etoile de l'Est in Ngoma and Ani, who is a prime target for Rayon Sports, will be aiming to bang in the goals to at least win the coveted top scorer award.Victor Mbaoma (APR FC, 15 goals)APR won the league with three games to spare and it is evident they will go unbeaten as they host Amagaju on the final match day come Sunday.Mbaoma featured in 25 games this season. He missed the first four games of the second round through an injury he sustained during the Mapinduzi Cup. He returned to action in the week 20 game against Bugesera FC on February 18.If Mbaoma manages to win the top scorer award, it will be a clean swoop for APR in the 2023/24 Primus National League. He will be the first APR player to win the top scorer award in over half a decade.Abdul Rahman Rukundo (Amagaju FC, 12 goals)The Burundi international, who plays for newly promoted Amagaju, is an offensive midfielder with his main position being 10 or 8 but he has a good goal scoring rate and he mathematically has a chance to win the golden boot for the 2023/24 season.Rukundo has scored 12 league goals so far this season and is only behind Ani and Mbaoma who have found the back of the net 15 times each.For an attacking midfielder from a newly promoted team, to have such numbers is very encouraging. He needs a hat trick against APR FC to tie Ani and Mbaoma should both of them fail to score in the last games. But it seems almost impossible.With his great showing this season, it is evident Rukundo will be a target of the big teams in the country in the June transfer window.ALSO READ: APR coach troubled by Mbaoma, Assoungue injuriesMuhadjiri Hakizimana (Police FC, 10 goals)He is the only Rwandan player to hit the double figure this campaign with 10 goals under his belt.Despite a slow start to the 2023/24 campaign, the experienced attacking midfielder rediscovered his form and scored 10 league goals this season, trailing five goals behind Ani and Mbaoma.Police FC have been poor in the second round of the 2023/24 season, winning just two games and it affected Hakizimana’s form. However, when they get a good game, the Rwanda international is among key men who make things tick for the law enforcers.Having won the Heroes Cup and Peace Cup, Hakizimana will be aiming to get some goals against Musanze FC in match day 30 even if it looks unlikely for him to win the top scorer's award.
