Gaba keeps goals flowing
It is now a dozen. On song Malawian talisman Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango on Saturday took his tally to 12 goals in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) to proudly sit pretty at the summit of the leading scorers’ chart.
The striker scored the second goal as resurgent Pirates displayed an awesome show of force to see-off his compatriot Limbikani ‘Pupa’ Mzava’s Highlands Park 3-1 on Saturday in Johannesburg.
In a match monitored on Digital Satellite Television’s (Dstv) SuperSport channel, the beauty of his strike lay in the execution. Like slink thief, Mhango intercepted a back pass from Luckyboy Mokoena, a cultured first touch gave him absolute ownership of the ball and then in a flash, he rounded off advancing Highlands goalkeeper Kyle Peters.
He then completed the task so easily, sweeping the ball into the empty net in the 11th minute.
Six minutes earlier, Thembinkosi Lorch, gave Pirates an early lead when he got behind Bevan Fransman to score.
Just before the interval, Pirates were three up, this time through Paseka Mako.
Highlands Park were an improved side in the second half and pulled one back through Mlungisi Mbunjana, sadly for them, it was too little to late as the Buccaneers were already in the comfort zone.
In an interview yesterday, Mhango played down his continued scoring prowess, saying: “I think what is important is the win because it is all about team work. I am scoring because we are playing as a team and that is why we have won four if not five games on the trot.”
He has now scored in five consecutive games and has been on the score sheet in every game since German coach Josef took charge of the Bucaneers.
Mhango has scored two goals more than second-placed Bongi Ntuli (Amazulu) and Samir Nurkovic (Kaizer Chiefs)
The Buccaneers stay in fifth place on the log with 30 points from 18 games, 12 behind leaders and rivals Kaizer Chiefs who were held to a one-all draw by Mhango’s compatriot Robert Ng’ambi’s Black Leopards.
They have now gone seven games unbeaten and taken 17 points from the last 21 available. On the other hand, Mzava’s Highlands have suffered three straight losses, conceding 10 goals in the process, and they are eighth with 23 points from 19 matches in the 16-team league.
