HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR MHANGO
And he will not be easing up as he targets even more Pirates goals
BEING Orlando Pirates’ main man doesn’t overwhelm Gabandinho Mhango. Instead, the Malawian is dtermined to continue to work hard and produce the goods to reach personal targets and help the team revive their glory days.
Six months into the Premiership season and Pirates are on a mission to fix their issues, which coincided with three head coaching changes.
Micho Sredojevic started the term but resigned after two matches. Then Rhulani Mokwena changed from being an assistant coach to an interim head coach, but the position proved too much for the 34-year-old as he bagged only 14 points out of a possible 33.
Enter Josef Zinnbauer and there’s been a breath of fresh air blowing over the Sea Robbers.
And notably there’s also been a resurgence in playing personnel and Mhango’s name quickly comes into the mind.
The 27-year-old striker is in the form of his career in domestic football as he leads the league’s scoring charts with 10 goals in 14 appearances.
It was, however, with his last performance against Polokwane City, when he scored the decade’s first hat-trick in the league, that Mhango sent a strong message as to why he might be the man to inspire the Buccaneers back to greatness.
“When we were still on the field, I think (Luvuyo) Memela told me that I was only the second player at Orlando Pirates to score a hat-trick, so that meant a lot to me. I took the match ball (that he received after the match) and gave it to my mom,” he said.
Mhango’s scorching form must have made him a target for Pirates’ next opponents but the Malawian is not planning to rest on his laurels, saying he’ll continue to work his socks off in his bid to possibly break the record of 25 goals in a season held by Collins Mbesuma.
“I think I need to do extra training alone. When I am home, I need to do more on finishing. I also think that my younger brother will help me in that regard,” he said.
Despite relying on extra work to further propel his resurgence this season, Mhango has also credited the support that he’s received from his teammates and German coach Zinnbauer.
“As a team we are doing well and everything starts at training. I’ve learnt a lot from players like Memela, who are experienced in football,” he said.
“The system that we’ve been given by the coach has also been working, and that’s how everything has become relatively easy.”
Mhango’s form has given the Buccaneers extra confidence as they look to close off the season on a high note following a nervy start. They are sixth on the log with 24 points, 17 behind log leaders and rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
The Buccaneers will thus be hoping to continue grinding out the results when they welcome champions Mamelodi Sundowns to their lair, Orlando Stadium, tomorrow (7.30pm kick-off).
The second-placed Brazilians head into this encounter hoping to close the nine-point gap between themselves and Chiefs. But that won’t be a walk in the park as Mhango and company are determined to keep the points in Soweto.
“Football is all about pressure. My focus is on helping Orlando Pirates. I don’t know about Sundowns. We’ll meet on Wednesday, and we just need to work hard and push for the results,” Mhango concluded.