Why Gabadinho’s lack of game-time dims Flames’ 2023 AFCON hopes
Every time Orlando Pirates step on the field of play minus Gabadinho Mhango, fans’ reaction back home in Malawi is that of palpable frustrations because the striker’s form means everything for the country’s national team – the Flames. Gabadinho has barely played a game at Pirates since his return from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Cameroon. The only exception was last Sunday when he made a rare appearance in the Confederation Cup quarter-final second leg match against Simba after being left out of the away leg.
The 29-year-old thought he had redeemed his Pirates career when he emerged among the top three leading scorers at the AFCON finals, leaving fancied players such as Mohamed Salah in his wake. Gabadinho went to AFCON on the back of inactivity due to niggling injuries; hence, his three goals in three games in Cameroon were supposed to be a springboard for a career revival in the DStv Premiership. However, Pirates co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi, and Fadlu Davids had other ideas. They insisted that competition for places in the team was still stiff and that Gabadinho’s AFCON form was no guarantee for regular football at the Soweto side.
“We made a choice where players have been preparing for the past week, and Mhango just got back from Afcon. We know he is a good player. It’s not because anything is wrong with him. It’s just a competition, and currently, we chose to go with Peprah and Lepasa,” Ncikazi told the press in South Africa. “Mhango has to work hard just like the other players. Lepasa was not part of the team. He couldn’t make the last 20, yet he is a star player for the [South African] national team. So, Mhango will wait like all other players. We recognise and acknowledge his performance at Afcon. But maybe the league in South Africa is bigger than Afcon.”
However, Malawians are not amused with what they feel is harsh treatment of Gabadinho at Pirates. Malawi football analyst Charles Nyirenda told The Nation newspaper that the continued omission of Gabadinho at Pirates was counterproductive to the Flames. “Regardless of the competition at Pirates, Gaba proved he is one of the best strikers at the Buccaneers. If they can’t accept that, let the player go where he will get game time rather than wasting talent like that,” Nyirenda said.
The continued lack of game-time for Gabadinho at Pirates is a source of concern for the Flames of Malawi going into the 2023 AFCON qualifiers. Malawi were drawn into Group D alongside Egypt, Guinea and Ethiopia. It is a no-brainer that the Flames would bank on Gabadinho upfront. In an interview with FARPost, former Jomo Cosmos striker Esau Kanyenda shared the frustrations of other Malawians.
“Gaba is our main striker, and his lack of game time is disappointing. Obviously, he will not go to the 2023 Afcon qualifiers with the same form of the previous edition, and this is a worry,” the ex-Polokwane City forward said. Kanyenda has since urged the Flames selectors to bring the best from Gabadinho within his circumstances. “We can take solace from the fact that when he was going to Afcon finals in Cameroon, he wasn’t in form, but he delivered the goods, so it would depend on how the coach would feature him and combinations that he will have at his disposal,” he said.
The current Flames squad does not have many options upfront because other strikers Richard Mbulu of Baroka FC have managed one goal this season. In contrast, Khuda Mubaya of Polokwane City plays in a relatively lower league in the GladAfrica Championship. Coach Meke Mwase, who earned the Flames the ticket to the AFCON finals before he was replaced, told FARPost it is nearly impossible for the Flames to do without the Pirates striker.
“What sets him apart from the rest of the players is his experience,” Mwase said. Mwase dropped Mhango from the World Cup qualifiers that took place a month before AFCON but could not resist the temptation of naming him in the final squad for the trip to Cameroon. He said while in Cameroon, Gabadinho overcame setbacks such as Covid-19 before scoring a brace for the Flames in the 2-1 win over Zimbabwe on his AFCON debut.
Gabadinho scored again in the 2-1 loss to Morocco in the Round of 16. “In the first game against Guinea, we had more scoring chances, but in the absence of Gabadinho, we couldn’t bury them. However, all that changed when he was available,” Mwase said. Mwase said they had to sit down the striker for him to regain his confidence ahead of the tournament in Cameroon.
“Looking at the situation he is in, I spoke to Gaba in Cameroon and emphasised that the secret for football is hard work. At that stage, it was easy to motivate the squad, as we all knew we had to make the most of the opportunity of playing on the big stage,” the former Jomo Cosmos defender said. Whatever the case, the situation of Gabadinho Mhango at Pirates does not inspire confidence in the Flames.
Soon, coach Mario Marinica, who has replaced Mwase, will choose a Flames squad for the Afcon qualifiers, with Gabadinho expected to make the cut despite his apparent lack of match fitness. The Flames do not have a choice; which Pirates have. The frustrations are there for all to see in Malawi.
By Peter Kanjere