Gabadinho Mhango grabs limelight
Malawi international football team striker, Gabadinho Mhango, is hogging the limelight ahead of his South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Orlando Pirates’ encounter with Mamelodi Sundowns today.
Mhango is the league’s joint leading goal scorer with 10 goals and analysts expect him to trouble Sundowns during this evening’s match.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates striker, Katlego Mashego, told Goal.com that Sundowns might find it difficult to monitor Mhango.
“I believe whoever is pumped up for the game will win it but my gut tells me it will be a draw. Mhango will be a threat for Sundowns but I expect Sundowns to capitalise on set pieces because Pirates seem to struggle to deal with them.”
A report on South African online publication, sowetanlive, states that with seven goals in the last three games, Mhango has found the best form of his life just when his team needed it the most.
“After months of instability and lack of form, Pirates were in need of a catalyst to spur them ahead into the new chapter they have taken under Josef Zinnbauer,” the report reads.
The former Big Bullets goal poacher told the publication that he was learning from his teammates.
“Everything starts at training. I try to learn as much as possible from my teammates so that I can improve myself. The coach has come up with a new system which is working for us which is a positive.”
“Sundowns will be a lot harder. They are a big team and it won’t be easy against them. If the opportunity comes again, then I will take my chances and keep doing what I need to do. It will be a pressure match. Football is all about pressure, this is the only way you can improve and learn,” Mhango said.
There has been a goal drought in the PSL for almost a decade with no player having scored at least 20 goals in a season.
Former Moroka Swallows striker Siyabonga Nomvethe was the last player to score 20 goals eight years ago.
According to sowetanlive, if Mhango can use his ‘hot hand’ properly, then he could easily breach the mark this season.
