Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango opened his scoring account of the new South Africa Premiership season on Wednesday night when guiding Bloemfontein Celtic to a 2-0 beating of Amazulu at the Moses Mabidha Stadium in Durban.
Lerato Lamola opened the scoring in the 17th minute while Gabadinho added the second to hand Celtic their first win of the season.
Defender Limbikani Mzava also featured for Celtic.
Still in South Africa, Robert Ng’ambi was conspicuously missing when his Platinum Stars lost 0-2 to Kaizer Chiefs in Johannesburg. It was the third Stars loss to the table topping Chiefs in all competitions in three weeks.
Striker Atusaye Nyondo played for University of Pretoria but could not prevent them from losing 0-1 to visiting Free State Stars head and deputy coach Tom Saintfiet and Kinnah Phiri respectively, are former Flames mentors. Nyondo has two goals in three games.
So far Robin Ngalande is the only Flames striker yet to score as he has not featured for Ajax Cape Town seemingly due to work permit issues. n
BB coach says no player is guaranteed a place
GARRY CHIRWA Senior News Analyst
Big Bullets coach Elia Kananji has exerted his authority, warning senior players that no one is guaranteed a place in the team.
Kananji was reacting to the exclusion of five key players—James Chilapondwa, Jimmy Zakazaka, Douglas Chirambo, Vincent Gona and Robson Banda—from the squad that travelled to Lilongwe last week for a Super League match against Civo United. Bullets won the match 2-0.
“Contrary to speculation that their exclusion was because of their involvement in the Carlsberg Cup prize sharing controversy, they were dropped purely on technical grounds.
“We now have a deep squad and a place in the team needs to be deserved through performance, attitude and behaviour. So, we might have senior players, but if they do not meet expectations then they will be overlooked,” said Kananji.
He also said all the five players have since resumed training with the team.
Kananji’s comment was in line with what the club’s general secretary Harold Fote said last week that the prize money protest had nothing to do with the players’ exclusion.
Bullets have further beefed up their squad by signing Frazer Menyani (Azam Tigers), Jaffalie Chande (Epac) and Dave Ng’ambi (Civo United). At the start of the season, they signed Bashir Maunde, Miracle Gabeya, Moses Scott, Victor Limbani, Tizgowere Kumwenda, Pilirani Zonda and Mussa Manyenje.
