Glody Makabi Lilepo Emerges as Kaizer Chiefs’ Surprise Top Scorer in Just Half a Season

Glody Makabi Lilepo may have only joined Kaizer Chiefs in January, but the Congolese winger has wasted no time in stamping his authority at Naturena. Signed from French third-tier side Valenciennes, the 27-year-old has quickly risen to the top of the club’s scoring charts in what has been a challenging season for the Soweto giants.

In just 18 appearances, Lilepo has found the back of the net six times — the highest tally among all Chiefs players this season. Despite the team struggling for consistency and goals, Lilepo has offered a rare spark in attack, averaging a goal every three matches. From the wing, he has racked up 1,439 minutes on the pitch, translating to a goal every 240 minutes.

What makes his achievement more impressive is the competition for goals within the squad. Wandile Duba, who is emerging as a promising young forward, has also scored six goals but needed 25 appearances to do so. His minutes-per-goal rate stands at 255 — slightly behind Lilepo.

Another notable attacker, Ranga Chivaviro, has chipped in with five goals in 22 games. His ratio translates to a goal every 4.4 matches, with a slightly better minutes-per-goal stat than Lilepo at 197 — owing to his central role as a striker.

However, not all forwards have delivered. Tashreeq Morris, who made a surprise move from SuperSport United, has scored only once in nine appearances, with that solitary goal against AmaZulu FC still disputed by TV replays. In total, he’s played 435 minutes — a disappointing return for a central striker trying to settle into a new team.

Ashley Du Preez has also had a tough time in front of goal. With five goals in 25 appearances, the speedy forward has been underwhelming in terms of conversion, scoring once every five matches. His minute-per-goal ratio stands at 231, slightly ahead of Lilepo, but his form has lacked consistency.

From midfield, Mduduzi Shabalala has also shown glimpses of attacking contribution, netting four times in 33 games — not a poor return for a young player learning the ropes in a senior squad.

For a player who arrived with little fanfare, Lilepo’s rise to the top of Chiefs’ scoring table highlights both his effectiveness and the lack of cutting edge from others in the squad. With more support and improved service, there’s every reason to believe the Congolese star could be even more prolific next season. As Chiefs look to rebuild, Lilepo may well be the attacking cornerstone they’ve been searching for.