Maduka’s team courts Gabadinho
Former Flames captain John Maduka could be the solution to compatriot Frank Gabadinho Mhango’s troubles at Orlando Pirates where he is starved of game time.
The Royal AM coach has since opened negotiations with the Buccaneers to sign the out-of-favour striker.
South African publication Soccerladuma has reported that Pirates are willing to let Gaba go but on condition that he is swapped with Maduka’s top red hot striker Sepana Letsoalo.
The ball is now in Maduka’s court to let go Letsoalo, who is Royal AM’s top goalscorer this season with 10 goals from 18 games.
His top form has helped Royal AM (formerly Bloemfontein Celtic) to move to the third position on DStv Premiership log table with 30 points from 19 games just below Pirates who have 31 points.
If the deal materialises, it will mark Gaba’s reunion with Maduka who helped launch the player’s international career in 2013 after signing him from Bullets.
Gaba was not available for comment, but his manager Mike Makaab of ProSport International did not rule out the possibility of a move for the striker.
“Age has become insignificant when it comes to transfers, it depends on his performances and he’s in a position playing as a front-man where when you do well, it’s seen, unlike a defender or a hard-working midfielder,” Makaab was quoted as saying.
Soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda urged Gaba to take the deal.
He said: “It’s indeed the only way out for Gaba. An overseas deal is very unlikely at his age.
“If Pirates are willing to let him go, that’s much better because he will be assured of game time at Royal AM.
“But maybe the challenge is that Maduka might not be comfortable to let go his top striker. He may do that just to help Gaba.”
Gaba scored 15 goals in his Premier Soccer League (PSL) maiden season with Celtic, but disagreements over his new contract led to the player signing a pre-contract with Bidvest Wits.
This did not go down well with Celtic who felt betrayed and opted to loan him to Golden Arrows until the end of the remaining six months on his contract.
Despite his fine form at Wits, Gaba found himself on the wrong side of the law after a spitting incident in 2017.
He was suspended for six matches and fined by the Premier Soccer League for spitting at AmaZulu midfielder Michael Morton.
That incident marked the player’s sour relationship with his coach Gavin Hunt who did not hide his resentment of the Flames player and this manifested fully as he was side-lined despite the Clever Boys paying about 3.4 million rands about (K210 million) to sign him.
The player scored just 11 goals in 41 appearances before Pirates signed him in 2019.
The striker proved his worth, netting 16 times to win the PSL Golden Boot Award.
But this season this has been hell for the 28-year-old, who has not featured for Pirates in PSL the past nine matches, but the player still went on to extend his contract for another two years.
An outstanding performance at Cameroon Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) where he scored three goals to inspire the Flames to their first ever round of 16 qualification, has not helped matters as Pirates coach MandlaNcikazi openly stressed that the player has to work hard, just like the other players to earn a first team place.
Ncikazi only featured Gaba in CAF Confederation Cup 3-2 loss to Al-Ittihad last Sunday following pressure from various quarters, including the club’s supporters, pundits and former players.
