Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango to miss PSL opener
Forgotten Flames star Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango, who has hit the last lap of his recovery from a groin injury, has ruled himself out of the South Africa Premiership season opening games.
“I am back training individually and I will be able to join the rest next week. I can kick the ball and run, but what remains is to do that in a team set-up. I might miss some opening two games for Celtic,” he explained on Tuesday when asked about the South Africa season kicking-off on August 8.
Mhango, who was last year barely recognisable from the ghost of a centre-forward that swept South Africa Premiership off its feet in his Bloemfontein Celtic maiden 2013 season, underwent surgery last month.
“Once I recover 100 percent, I, no doubt, will be back to my best form. Gaba never changes. I have confidence in my abilities. By September, I should be available for national team selection,” he added.
From hitting nine league goals in 2013 when he was nominated South Africa league rookie of the season and scooped Celtic top scorer award, Mhango managed three goals only in 2014 campaign.
The former Big Bullets star insisted that he was merely going through a bad patch that comes with playing in a second season of a tough league in South Africa.
“In the first season, opponents are left guessing on one’s style of play but the story is different in the preceding season.
There are also added distractions that come with earning more. It is, therefore, important to always remember where you come from and focus,” Mhango explained.
In an earlier interview, Celtic team manager John Maduka said the injury might have contributed to Mhango’s dip in form last season.
“He is still in rehabilitation and doing well. We did not want him to keep on playing with the injury which we think contributed to his loss of form. Gaba remains our key player and he is not going anywhere,” Maduka explained.
Former Flames coach Young Chimodzi dropped Mhango due to the dip in form. He was also not part of the Flames’ squad that won the 2015 Cosafa Cup Plate Division championship in South Africa two months ago.
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