Gerald Phiri Junior has been named as the new captain for South Africa Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Baroka FC, a vote of confidence in the set-piece specialist.
Phiri, who signed for Baroka as a free agent in June 2019 after leaving Ajax Cape Town, Monday confirmed that Zambian Coach, Wedson Nyirenda, appointed him to replace Mduduzi Ndatsane.
“It is an honour especially being in foreign land. It really came as a big surprise because I am new in the team and I didn’t think it would be me,” said the player who struggled for game-time at Bidvest Wits before being released last season.
“There are no added incentives. It is about the armband and of course lots of responsibilities to help lead the team. It adds a bit of pressure and when you are a foreigner, it means more pressure.”
The utility player, who is being used in a deep midfield role at 14th placed Baroka, gets a run as a skipper when Baroka host second-positioned Mamelodi Sundowns Wednesday.
Baroka are winless in four league games a development Phiri attributed to a mere bad patch.
“In all the games we have lost by 1-0 margins, we play well but the other team gets one chances scores and win the game. We just don’t have luck but at the end of the day, you make your own luck,” he said.
To warm up for the Sundowns’ game, Baroka thrashed Polokwane City counterparts Black Leopards FC 5-1 over the weekend with Phiri scoring once and compatriot Richard Mbulu a hat-trick. Mbulu is yet to score in the PSL.
“He is doing well. He just needs one goal [in PSL] to break the duck,” Phiri said about Mbulu.
Phiri, who is also the Flames vice-captain, said he was looking forward to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan next week.
During a recent Cosafa media workshop held at Mpira Village in Blantyre, South Africa Broadcasting Corporation sports journalist Vulile Mnyandu described Phiri as probably the best set-piece specialist in the PSL.
South Africa-based Malawian journalist, Benjamin Nyirenda, Monday rated Phiri alongside Orlando Pirates’ Gabadinho Mhango as stand-out Malawian footballers in PSL so far.
“He is doing well. He is the most consistent player in most of the games for Baroka despite that the team is struggling,” he said.
Seasoned midfielder Robert Ng’ambi (Leopards) and defender Limbikani Mzava (Highlands Park) are other Malawians playing in the PSL.
