Manager says age won’t stand in Gaba’s way

South Africa-based red-hot forward Gabadinho Mhango’s manager Mike Makaab says he believes age won’t be a barrier on the prospects of his client clinching a deal in Eurpe.

Mhango is set to turn 30 in September this year, but his manager believes that will not stop European clubs from making a move for the 2019/20 PSL Golden Boot award winner.

Makaab, who runs ProSport International, a South Africa-based player agency, was quoted by Goal.com as having said: “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,” he continued.

“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.

“Sometimes you only see what they do when you look at stats and really analyse them. But a striker when he’s banging in the goals, everybody takes notice. So I think Gaba will bounce back and we’ll see the real Mhango when he gets back to South Africa.”

He said when ProSport International brought Mhango to South Africa, they were optimistic he would make the grade.

“We always thought in our heart that he was a bit special and it’s just now up to him to convert that brilliance into consistency. He needs to work harder and he knows that,” said Makaab.

Mhango dazzled at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon, scoring three goals in three matches, including a beauty against Morocco, which is being pitted as the potential goal of the tournament.

“Pirates have exercised his option so he will continue with them [until 2023]. What’s important without going into too much detail, is that I think he let himself down with his performances after such a fantastic previous season [2019/20 season],” Makaab told iDiski Times.

“He acknowledges that. He’s brave enough to. He’s man enough to acknowledge that, you can’t blame that club at all, Gaba knows, but he’s a quality player, he’s a really top-class player.

“Afcon has shown what a really good striker he is. It’s my belief, not hope, that this will be the catalyst for us to see what Gaba is really capable of doing and I think he can really grow from the fantastic season he had at Pirates previously.”

In an interview yesterday, Mhango said he will keep on working hard.

He said: “It’s encouraging and humbling that my manager has mantained faith in me.

“Every player thinks of a dream move to Europe and what I can say is that I will keep fighting. It’s all about having self-belief.”