Covid-19 halts Gaba’s Europe opportunities
Prosport International, the agency that manages South Africa-based Malawian forward Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango says the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has affected overseas opportunities for the player.
In February this year, the gobal sports management firm warned Mhango’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) club Orlando Pirates to be prepared to lose the red-hot forward if he maintained his rich vein of form this season.
However, in an interview from Johannesburg, Prosport International’s chief executive officer Mike Makaab said due to the current situation, they are not pursuing opportunities for the current South African top-flight league leading scorer.
He said: “At this point, we cannot look at opportunities abroad until we know the mechanisms worldwide of the lifting of lockdown restrictions.”
Before the lockdown, Makaab was quoted by KickOff.com three months ago as having said that there were some openings in Europe for the 27-year-old striker as a result of his form.
“I think Pirates need to be ready, not me. We must be grateful to Orlando Pirates for giving him the opportunity,” he was quoted as having said then.
In an interview from his Johannesburg base, Mhango said his focus is to continue where he left when the suspension on sporting activities is lifted in the rainbow nation.
“My focus now is purely on Pirates because they are my current employers. If there are openings in Europe, my manager will take care of that.
“Covid-19 has affected so many players, but it will pass,” he said.
Last month, the former Bidvest Wits, Golden Arrows, Bloemfontein Celtic and Nyasa Big Bullets forward revealed his ambitious dream to play in the English Premier League (EPL).
“I would like to play [in the] English Premier League because I have always wanted to play EPL [football],” he said.
Mhango tops the scorers’ chart with 14 goals, two ahead of his closest chasers Bradley Grobler (SuperSport United), Peter Shalulile (Highlands Park) and Bongi Ntuli (AmaZulu FC).
In 2018, while with Wits, Mhango underwent unsuccessful two-week trial at Portuguese top-flight league side Vitoria Futebol.
