Gaba scores 4th league goal
Flames forward Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango is on course in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) golden boot chase, having scored his fourth goal for Orlando Pirates against Polokwane City on Tuesday evening.
He scored the first goal for Pirates from a penalty as the Bucaneers beat Polokwane 3-2 in Soweto.
Mhango is now four goals short of the leading scorer Peter Shalulile of Highlands Park.
“My target really is not necessarily winning the Golden Boot Award although I want to score as much as I can so as to help my team climb further up on the standings.
“But if I would win it, then it would be fulfilling, considering that it is my first season with Pirates,” he said in an interview from his Johannesburg base.
Recently, former Pirates and Flames coach Ernest ‘Wire’ Mtawali told www.kickoff.com that there is still more to come from his compatriot
“That’s the typical Gabadihno,” he was quoted as having said in reference to Mhango’s goal against Kaizer Chiefs in a league match.
“He has so much talent. At his age [27], I think he is now at his peak. He is at the right club and this is a big break for him.”
Pirates were trailing 0-1 when Mhango cancelled Charlton Mashumba’s 12th- minute goal nine minutes later.
The penalty came after Nicolas Motloung was judged to have handled inside the box and up stepped Mhango to convert the spot-kick with ease.
However, the Malawian international was substituted in the 60th minute for Kabelo Dlamini in a bid to add fire-power upfront.
The Buccanners restored the lead six minutes later through Tshegofatso Mabasa after turning brilliantly inside the box to fire home a left-footed shot from close range.
According to www.kickoff.com, Dlamini made it 3-1 later on with a sweeping strike from close range after combining with Mabasa.
Polokwane pulled a goal back in stopage time after Mpho Mvelase curled home a superb strike into the top corner from the inside edge of the box.
The victory took Pirates to seventh place in the 16-team league with 16 points from 12 matches, while Polokwane slipped down to the 10th spot with 13 points from the same number of games.
Elsewhere, Bidvest Wits fought back to hold Flames defender Limbikani Mzava’s Highlands Park to a 1-1 stalemate.
