PAMBA Jiji striker Mathew Tegis believes his recent hat-trick has boosted his chances of challenging for the Mainland Premier League Golden Boot award as he looks to surpass the scoring record he set last season.

The Kenyan forward produced a stunning performance in Pamba Jiji’s 4-0 victory over Mtibwa Sugar, scoring three goals to take his league tally to 11 for the season. The feat made him one of only two players to register a hat trick in a single match this campaign, alongside Mossi Nduwumwe.

With 11 goals to his name, Tegis now trails league top scorer Feisal Salum “Fei Toto’ by just three goals. Salum currently leads the scoring charts with 14 goals as the season approaches its conclusion.

For Tegis, the achievement carries extra significance as it matches the 11-goal mark he reached last season while playing for Shabana FC in Kenya. During that campaign, he finished as the club’s leading scorer after netting 11 goals in 15 appearances.

Speaking about his recent form, Tegis expressed delight at equaling his previous best but insisted his focus is now on exceeding that total in the remaining fixtures.

“I am happy to have reached the record I set last season, but now I have to prepare myself again for the final matches as I fight for the top scorer’s award,” he said.

The striker acknowledged the fierce competition among the league’s leading scorers but remains determined to leave a lasting mark in Tanzanian football during his debut season in the country.

“Football is my job, and above everything I put God first to ensure that what I do succeeds. The competition is tough, but I am grateful for the consistency I have shown. Now I am preparing for the remaining matches to see if I can achieve my target,” Tegis added.

The forward also described the Premier League as one of the most competitive leagues he has experienced, saying the challenge has helped him grow both as a player and as a professional.

“This league is difficult and highly competitive. It has helped me learn a lot and improve my career as I continue developing my talent in African football,” he said.

Despite Tegis’ impressive hat-trick heroics, Pamba Jiji head coach Francis Baraza believes the striker is still capable of much more.

Baraza praised the forward for his goalscoring display but admitted he expected him to reach such numbers earlier in the campaign.

“It is a good thing for him to score three goals and, as a coach, I must be happy because a striker’s job is to score. But the truth is that I expected him to reach this level much earlier,” said Baraza.

“I know Tegis is a very good striker. If I say he is among the best forwards currently playing in Tanzania, I would not be wrong. The biggest challenge has been the pressure he puts on himself when chasing records and his desire to score in every match.”

Pamba Jiji have three matches remaining before the end of the season, with fixtures against Mbeya City FC, JKT Tanzania and Coastal Union FC still to come.

The Mwanza-based side currently sit seventh in the league standings with 36 points, and Tegis will be hoping the final stretch of the campaign provides enough opportunities to close the gap on the league’s leading scorer and potentially write his name into the history books.