Orlando Pirates winger Gamphani Lungu has lifted the lid on the intense battle for starting berths at Mayfair, revealing how healthy rivalry among the club’s attackers is pushing standards higher.
The Zambia international’s remarks come as the Buccaneers coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has been complaining about his impotent strikeforce this season. Of the eight goals Pirates have scored in four games in the Betway Premiership and MTN8 this season, no striker has found the back of the net.
Wide men Lungu and Tshepang Moremi are the top scorers with two goals each, while other wingers Oswin Appollis and Daniel Msendami have scored a goal each. Attacking midfielder Patrick Mswanganyi has found the target from the penalty spot, with centre-back Lebone Seema also finding the back of the net once.
But Yanela Mbuthuma and Boitumelo Radiopane, who are the strikers to have enjoyed more minutes on the pitch, have been firing blanks. That has invited stinging criticism on Mbuthuma, whom Ouaddou has moved in to defend of late, in a U-turn after initially expressing anger over his frontrunners.
LUNGU STATES ‘HEALTHY COMPETITION’ BETWEEN PIRATES WINGERS AND STRIKERS
But Lungu has painted a different picture of Pirates’ number nines, saying they always challenge wingers at training and contribute to the wide players’ improvement.
“Contributing to the team, good performances and stuff always gives me confidence for the next game and stuff like that,” Lungu said, as quoted by the Pirates website.
“I always tell the guys when they say ‘no you saved us’ – I’m like, ‘no I didn’t save you’. It’s my job to do that. It’s my job to help the team win. As much as it is their job, it’s mine as well. So, I saved myself. It’s obviously good to have the guys behind me, helping and, obviously, pushing me.
“We have healthy competition in training with the strikers, with the wingers, we tell each other ‘let’s see how many goals you can score’. We compete, and it’s healthy competition. It keeps us improving and helps us.”
GAMPHANI LUNGU SHARES LOFTY AMBITIONS WITH PIRATES
Signed by Ouaddou from Siwelele FC before the start of this season, Lungu has made an immediate impact. His two goals include an extra-time winner in the MTN8 quarter-final tie against Durban City FC at Orlando Amstel Arena.
Having featured in all Pirates’ four games this season, the last two matches saw him playing every minute of the contests, in what is a hint that he could have cemented a starting berth in Ouaddou’s side.
Joining Betway Premiership reigning champions means coming to a club that is expected to defend the biggest prize in South African football. This is also a team hard-pressed to end a long trophy drought in Africa after last winning the CAF Champions League in 1995.
“They [PSL teams] should expect us to fight for the title. You know, with winning something once, people will say it’s a fluke and whatever,” added the 27-year-old who has also been used as a right-back by Ouaddou, as back-up for Kamogelo Sebelebele.
“We want to win it again so that we can say the first time wasn’t a fluke. It’s something that needs to be in our DNA. For the fans, we would like to go as far as possible, even in the CAF competition [Champions League]. “We want to win it.
“We want to win the league. To be honest, I want to win everything this season with this team, and I believe that we can if we just keep working and pushing together.”
SEAMLESS SETTLING DOWN AT PIRATES FOR LUNGU
Pirates’ interest in Lungu began when he was still at SuperSport United before finally landing his signature in July. He explains why it has been easy for him to settle down at the Buccaneers.
“I’ve been in the league for the past eight years. I know most of the players,” Lungu went on.
“Even some of the players that are here, I’ve played with some of them back at SuperSport and stuff like that. The players I came with from Siwelele are also here.
“That’s why I think I could adapt easily. I think the experience of being in the whole football industry has played a big part in it.”
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