Mhango is your January pick
HUNGER: KEEPS FINDING THE NET
Bucs striker eyeing Collins Mbesuma’s PSL season record of 25 goals in all competitions.
Gabadinho Mhango’s impressive stats in the last few weeks have earned him the prestigious accolade of being voted Phakaaathi’s Player-ofthe-Month for January
The Orlando Pirates striker has been lethal in front of goals for the Buccaneers, with his impressive goalscoring form seeing him shoot to the top of the charts in the Absa Premiership with 14 goals to his name.
In January, Pirates won four of five games in total, after starting the month with a 1-1 draw against Bloemfontein Celtic. During that period, the Malawian international went on to score six goals, including a hat-trick against Polokwane City – his first for the Buccaneers and the second in the Absa Premiership.
He is already being tipped to become this season’s top shooter in the league and his confidence and hard work will certainly help him to finish on top.
Earlier last month after scoring his 10th goal, the Bucs goal poacher did talk about the desire to finish top of the goal-scoring charts and stating that it is possible to break the PSL top goalscoring record of 25 goals in all competitions scored by former Kaizer Chiefs striker Collins Mbesuma some years ago.
Or he could even go on to be the first player to score 20 or more goals in the Absa Premiership since Siyabonga Nomvethe during his spell with Moroka Swallows in the 2011/2012 season.
“It’s possible to do that (break the record), we just have to continue working as a team,” said the striker.
“I just need extra training for myself. Actually, when I am home, I do some finishing with my younger brother. I think it’s something to help me achieve that.”
Another thing that has seen Mhango rise to the occasion and makes him a special player at Pirates is his work ethic.
The striker tends to track back and help out in defence and the oppositions always have a difficult time trying to deal with his pressure and high pressing. For all the efforts and brilliance he has shown, Mhango makes it as the first Phakaaathi Player-ofthe-Month this year.
He has also put his name forward as a candidate for February, with a double in a league win at Chippa United, but missed the weekend’s Nedbank Cup game against Bidvest Wits through suspension.