Soccer: O'Sullivan a goal closer to winning golden boot

Ngongotaha captain Josh O'Sullivan has a chance to make history.

O'Sullivan has scored 24 league goals in the Waibop Federation League this season and only needs one more to break the golden boot record, according to Waibop.

He tied the current record - set by Tauranga Old Blues player Jack McNabb in 2011 - when he scored two goals in a 10-1 win over Whakatane Town last weekend.

His goal scoring feats have included a number of hat-tricks and even a double hat-trick against Tauranga City earlier this season.

However, the Ngongotaha captain said he would give it all back just to win the title with his team mates. "I never imagined it would be like this this year so I am just enjoying it. But pretty much it is all about the team.

"I'd rather win the league and take all those goals back, it's not about me it's about the team."

The Waibop Federation League has been running since 2008, incorporating top clubs from Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

No Rotorua club has won the league but Ngongotaha currently sit in second place with eight games remaining.

They are one point back from Tauranga's AFC Fury.

"It would mean everything [to win the league] because our biggest goal is to go up into Northern League so our kids and young players can see a channel."

He said at the moment to play in the most competitive leagues based out of Auckland, called Northern League, you need to play for a club in Hamilton.

To be invited to play in the Northern League teams from Waikato and Bay of Plenty must win the Waibop Federation League.

During his senior career in Rotorua, O'Sullivan has played for Ngongotaha AFC, Rotorua United and former clubs Rotorua City and Rotorua Suburbs.

He has been playing senior football in Rotorua for 17 years, and said it would mean a lot to finally win a title.

O'Sullivan said, according to his records, he had actually scored two more goals this season than what Waibop had recorded.

O'Sullivan and Ngongotaha face off against an in-form Tauranga City team at Links Ave (Tauranga) tomorrow at 2.45pm. In other premier games tomorrow, Whakatane Town play host to competition leaders AFC Fury. Rotorua United continue their attempt to escape relegation when they host Waikato Unicol at Neil Hunt Park at 2.45pm. Melville host Tauranga Old Blues, Matamata Swifts host Cambridge and Otumoetai host Taupo.

Federation One table

Fury 32,

Ngongotaha 31

Old Blues 28

Tauranga City 24

Cambridge 23

Whakatane 22

Matamata 21

Unicol 18

Taupo 12

Melville 10

Rotorua United 8

Otumoetai 3.