KICK OFF: How is this young man from Chiweta is feeling about his football career right now considering all that has happened in recent times…
Gabadinho Mhango: [Smiling] First of all I think I need to thank the Almighty God, my family, my mom, my teammates and Orlando Pirates for bringing me here. It has been great being here because we are playing good football. I can see that there are changes with the football that we are playing now. It is great because you can tell that we are playing for a big team like Orlando Pirates. For me, it is a huge opportunity being at Orlando Pirates.
How would you describe the space that you are in now? What I can tell is that there are a
lot of differences compared to the team [BidVest Wits] that I played for previously. Nowadays I cannot even go out without anyone recognising me. I mean, even the security guard where I stay recognises me and always says ‘Bhakaniya’ [Buccaneer], so I can already tell that there is a difference and this team is big. It is a lot of pressure to know that there are a lot of people watching our games and every movement. These are people who make a lot of sacrifices so that means a lot to me. I am grateful to be at Pirates.
What kind of mental space are you in now knowing the importance of the psychological factor in this game?
Right now, I am just OK. I am just normal because I am feeling good and enjoying my football. What matters the most is that I am happy and enjoying my football.
How do you define the ‘enjoying my football’ part?
Bu hikaye Kickoff dergisinin February 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Kickoff dergisinin February 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
The Best Of South Africa's Clasico
Kaizer Chiefs versus Orlando Pirates is one of football’s great derby matches with a rich history, both good and bad, that has helped to create a sports event that is the biggest in South Africa. It is perhaps the only fixture that can bring the country to a stand-still and down the years there has been some epic fixtures. KICK OFF’s Mark Gleeson picks out 10 of the best.
‘There is more coming'
The arrival of German coach Josef Zinnbauer at Orlando Pirates has coincided with Gabadinho Mhango suddenly raising his performance. His seven goals in Zinnbauer’s first four matches have elevated him to double figures already with a loud shout in the top scorers’ award chase. As Malawi’s top export, Mhango knows he is representing many back home, and thus carries the desire to aim high. He spoke to KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo, revealing he believes there is more coming from him.
‘I should have won 12 times'
Samuel Eto’o announced his retirement from professional football in 2019 and leaves behind a legacy that many consider sees him as the greatest African footballer of all time with 18 major titles won for club and country. KICK OFF’s Lorenz Kohler sat down with the four-time CAF African Player of the Year at the Duqesa de Cardona hotel in Barcelona before El Clasico to find out his role in the Castle Lager Africa Fives project and look back on an iconic career that started back in 1997.
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‘We Know How To Win The League'
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Chiefs' Missing Link
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Mano A Mano In Combat With Mano-Mano
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Silencing The Critics
Having joined as a relatively unknown striker, with no eye-popping history of his ability, Gustavo Paez has begun to settle in well at Kaizer Chiefs over the last six months, and is looking to help Amakhosi return to their glory days in the 2017/18 Premier Soccer League season. Everyone took a dig at his journeyman background and they expected to see another failed mercenary unpack their suitcase at Naturena. Oh, how wrong they were …
Jayiya Lives Childhood Dream
Bhongolwethu Jayiya was part of Cape Town City’s whirlwind debut season, contributing an outstanding hat-trick against Chippa United as the Citizens finished an impressive third on the Absa Premiership table. Now that he has made the incredible step up to the Glamour Boys, a life-long dream of his, the pressure to achieve has been turned up a few notches. Here he tells KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo about his journey to Naturena.
