Bidvest coach explains Gaba’s new role

Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt has explained his decision to play Flames forward Gabadinho Mhango as a winger and not his centre forward natural position in the match against Kaizer Chiefs at Bidvest Stadium on Tuesday.

The coach told Kickoff.com that he envisaged that the striker is capable of exploiting the wide space and it worked well as he ended up being named man-of-the-match in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) opener the Clever Boys won 2-1.

“I played Mhango wide today. It is not his position, but I knew that’s where the space was for us.

“In the first half he kept drifting in and I said to him: ‘stay wide, stay wide, you’ll get the ball and we can hurt them there.’ That right fullback gets really high and the space is there game in and game out,” he said.

Gaba, who provided the assist for one of the goals, said he was delighted to be named man-of-the-match on his debut.

“It’s even great to start with a win against Chiefs,” he said.

The coach’s tactics worked well as goals from Elias Pelembe and Thulani Hlatshwayo handed Chiefs, who scored through Lorenzo Gordinho, the first opening day encounter loss in PSL since 2008 leaving coach Steve Komphela disheartened.

“We seemed to be reluctant to play under pressure and as a result their pressing game overcame our possession and also they kept the ball in the air and we didn’t bring it down,” stated Komphela.

Meanwhile, Mhango’s compatriots Robin Ngalande and Gerald Phiri, who have South Africa permanent residence, were not in the Bidvest Wits squad.

In the other PSL match, Esau Kanyenda’s side Polokwane City started with a loss to Cape Town City 2-0.

The veteran striker started the match, but he could not help his side earn first day victory.

Muhammad Sulumba, who has just clinched a deal with Polokwane City, is yet to be registered.