Gabadinho Mhango may have attracted international attention with his sensational long-range strike in the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. However, his form this season has not been enough to secure him a place in the Orlando Pirates squad, writes Mogamad Allie.

Eyebrows were raised when Mhango, after starring for Malawi at Afcon, didn’t even make the match-day squads for the Nedbank Cup clash against AmaZulu, the Caf Confederation Cup game against Algeria’s JS Saoura or the league encounter against Golden Arrows.

Many believed the 29-year-old’s form at the Nations Cup, which saw him net all three his country’s goals in their four games, would make him a shoo-in for a goal-shy Pirates side. While Mhango impressed many who watched Afcon with his predatory instincts, it wasn’t enough to sway the opinion of Pirates head coach Mandla Ncikazi.

In fact, Ncikazi caused a stir by controversially claiming the PSL is bigger than Caf’s flagship tournament. ‘The No 1 goalkeeper for Ivory Coast [Badri Ali Sangare] plays at JDR Stars in the GladAfrica Championship and the No 1 goalkeeper for Gabon [Jean-Noel Amonome] at the finals is the third choice at AmaZulu. He can’t even get on their bench. They were both heroes for their countries in Cameroon,’ he said.

Ncikazi explained Mhango’s omission from the match-day squad by pointing out that the Malawi international had fallen behind the likes of Zakhele Lepasa, who returned from a long-term ankle injury, and Ghanaian Kwame Peprah in the pecking order.

‘Pirates are a big team. You’ve got strikers and Mhango is one of them. You’ve got Lepasa, Mabasa who was not part of the team and you have Peprah. So, it’s a galaxy of strikers, although others were injured.

‘With respect, the choice at Pirates is between players have been preparing for the past weeks, and Mhango just came back. We know he is a good player and it’s not because there is anything wrong with him, it’s just competition and we chose to go with Peprah and Lepasa. He will get his opportunity in due course. He just has to work hard like other players are doing.

‘We recognise and acknowledge his performance in the Afcon but maybe the league in South Africa is bigger than the Afcon but that is a question for another day.’
Despite his lack of game time, Pirates exercised their option to extend Mhango’s contract until 2023.

The club is fully aware of the 29-year-old striker’s capabilities that saw him rippling the net 16 times in the 2019-20 season, his first at Pirates. That tally was enough for him to share the Golden Boot award with Highlands Park’s Peter Shalulile. Mhango’s agent Mike Makaab, who coached Pirates to the NSL league title in 1994, is confident the striker’s performances at Afcon will be a springboard for a return to form at club level.

‘It’s my belief, not hope, that this will be the catalyst for us to see what Gaba is really capable of doing. I think he can grow from the fantastic season he had at Pirates previously,’ Makaab told iDiski Times. ‘I think he let himself down with his performances after such a fantastic previous season. He acknowledges that. He’s brave enough to do so but he’s a really top-class player. Afcon has shown what a really good striker he is.’

Despite his relatively advanced age, there have been rumours of interest from Europe, which isn’t surprising given that Afcon was broadcast on several European television networks. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing him back in action but he’s going to have to work his socks off like every other player who wants to make the grade. I don’t think it’s too late for him to ply his trade in Europe,’ said Makaab.

Ever since he moved to Bloemfontein Celtic from Blantyre-based Nyasa Big Bullets in August 2013, PSL fans became familiar with the predatory instincts of the Malawi international. At the end of his first season, his nine goals were enough for Mhango to finish runner-up to Bernard Parker in the race for the Golden Boot award.

But, in one of several controversial incidents that has blighted his career, Mhango left Phunya Sele Sele under a cloud when he signed a pre-contract with Bidvest Wits in January 2016. Celtic boss Max Tshabalala, who thought he was still negotiating with the striker to extend his contract, was livid and immediately showed him the door.

Putting the acrimony behind him, Mhango netted nine valuable goals the following season as he helped Gavin Hunt’s side to clinch their first league title in the university-based club’s 96-year history.

Again, controversy followed the diminutive striker as he copped a six-game ban in September 2017 after spitting at AmaZulu midfielder Michael Morton. Clearly troubled and unsettled, a seemingly uninterested Mhango would score only five more goals in 28 appearances in his next two seasons with Wits. It was telling that Hunt recognised the striker’s talent despite his ‘moods and stuff’.

His performances at Afcon showcased Mhango‘s qualities as a striker and could yet secure him a lucrative move to Europe or the Middle East.