Gaba delighted to reach CAF tourney semi-finals

South Africa-based Malawian forward Frank Gabadinho Mhango says converting one of the penalties that helped his club Orlando Pirates qualify for the semi-finals of the CAF Confederations Cup on Sunday was relieving.

Pirates kept their continental dream alive by eliminating Tanzanian giants Simba SC 4-3 on post-match penalties at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg after winning 1-0, courtesy of Kwame Peprah’s 60th-minute goal to level the aggregate score in the quarter-finals. The Lions had emerged 1-0 victors in the first leg last weekend in Dar es Salaam.

Said Mhango in an interview: “Considering all that I have gone through this season, converting one of the penalties was refreshing.

“That we went on to win the match was an icing on the cake. The going has been really tough for me, but at least I was given a run as a substitute and I went on to convert a penalty. It was refreshing.”

During the match monitored on SuperSport television channel, Mhango appeared ice-cool as he stepped up to take the penalty.

He did not go for power, but precision and with a swing of his leg, the Simba ‘keeper could not help, but watch starry-eyed as the ball went past him.

Mhango was introduced in the 77th minute for Peprah as Pirates searched for a winner in regulation time.

His compatriot Peter Banda did not get a run for Simba, although he played in the first leg.

Despite his vintage performance at the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon early this year where he was the third leading scorer with three goals from three matches, Mhango has been reduced to a sideshow at Pirates.