Msungama changes tune on Gabadinho

Barely four months after declaring Gabadinho Mhango as too young for professional football, player agent Kondi Msungama has changed tune saying the player is mature and can make the grade abroad.

Msungama plans to take Gabadinho for assessment at South Africa’s Premier Soccer League side Black Leopards next month ahead of the January transfer window.

Last July, Msungama was among pundits who said the player needs two more seasons in the domestic league as he is not ready for full-scale professional football after another South African side Jomo Cosmos wanted to sign him.

“Indeed, I said he was young because I did not want to fall in the trap of praising him a little too early just because of a few goals then. I gave him a year or two, but he has done extremely well in the past months,” said Msungama.

He said Leopards have given him power to identify and employ players and he is sending Gabadinho and defender Foster Namwela in December.

The only stumbling block in Gabadinho’s deal could be his father who declared that he will only allow his son, who is in Form Two, to go for professional football after completing his secondary education.

“Leopards are ready to put him in one of the best high schools in Polokwane. In fact, the team has three players who are in matric (form four) and the same arrangement can be made for Gabadinho,” said Msungama.

Bullets general secretary said the position of Gabadinho’s move abroad has not changed.

“His parents will decide and we will all follow that decision,” he said.