As the 2018/19 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) season enters the home stretch and teams jostle for points in the race for qualification to the knockout round or for survival from relegation, there is another race that has started to take shape — the hunt for the Golden Boot.

That battle to see who will end the season as the competition’s leading marksman, is one that currently has at least six players in contention, and it is anybody’s guess who will claim the crown or in this case, the boot.

Portmore United’s Rondee Smith has already made his intentions known as he continues to play a critical role in his team’s bid to retain their title. Smith and Fabian Reid of Arnett Gardens currently share top slot on the leader board with nine goals each with one game still to be played in the final round.

Alex Marshall of the young and exciting Cavalier FC and Tremaine Stewart of last year’s losing finalists Waterhouse FC are on eight goals apiece, while Nicholas Hamilton, also of Cavalier FC, and Colorado Murray of Tivoli Gardens are on seven goals each.

Interestingly, Smith, Reid, Marshall and Stewart, all ended the second round on eight goals, but the talismanic Portmore United striker and his Arnett Gardens counterpart edged in front following contrasting results for their teams on Sunday.

Smith’s strike earned Portmore United a point in a 1-1 stalemate against Mount Pleasant at Drax Hall, while Reid’s goal was a mere consolation for Arnett Gardens, who conceded two own goals in a 1-2 loss to Humble Lion.

After springing from the blocks with five goals at the end of the first round, Smith had a lukewarm run in the second round, scoring just three times and that allowed his competitiors to close the gap.

Now with the Golden Boot race heading for the wire, Smith, who sports the number 20 for the reigning champions and league leaders, welcomes the challenge from his competitors.

“The second round wasn’t what I expected. Nevertheless, I continued to work hard, so I just want to make the third round better than the second round. I am always one who is up for the challenge… it’s a good boost knowing that competition is out there, so I can’t get complacent (as) I need to work hard each and every game,” Smith stated.

While pleased with his opening goal in Sunday’s game, Smith was not entiurely pleased with the end result.

“It was a goal poacher, it was a simple tap in, that was pretty much it and it is definitely a good way to start the third round. I am a bit disappointed with the result because I thought we gave away the game, but such is the game of football, we have to regroup and come again,” he reasoned.

When asked if he thought that winning the Golden Boot would strengthen his chances of a recall to the national set-up, Smith was coy in his response.

“Time will tell, time will tell,” he said with a smile.

Meanwhile, Levaughn Williams of Humble Lion, Deshane Beckford of the struggling Montego Bay United and Smith’s strike partner Javon East, are also expected to make things interesting, as they all sit on six goals.

— Dwayne Richards