Gaba will get his chance, says manager
Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango’s manager Mike Makaab says he is optimistic the player will get his chance at DStv Premiership outfit Orlando Pirates.
He was responding to a question on his take on Mhango’s continued exclusion at the Buccaneers despite his stellar show at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Cameroon.
The Flames striker was not even on the bench when Pirates hosted Algerian side JS Saoura in a CAF Confederations Cup match on Sunday, which Pirates won 2-0.
He said: “We need to be patient. Gaba will get his opportunity.”
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu said Pirates are missing out a lot by ignoring Mhango.
He said: “It’s only a matter of time. They don’t know what they are missing. They will regret.”
In a pre-match interview, Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncinkazi reiterated that Mhango’s impressive performance at the Afcon finals does not guarantee him a place in the team.
He was quoted by South African media as having said: “If a player is in the national team of a certain country, it does not necessarily mean he should be a regular [at his club].
“I am not going to change what I said [earlier] because it’s what I think.”
Mhango was also not on the bench when Pirates beat AmaZulu 1-0 in a Nedbank Cup tie last week.
At Afcon, he scored three goals in three matches, including a 40-metre drive against Morocco in the round of 16 which was tipped as a goal of the tournament.
