Orlando Pirates co coach Fadlu Davids has addressed the absence of Gabadinho Mhango from the match day squad, after the Malawian forward missed out again in Pirates’ draw against Golden Arrows on Wednesday.
Pirates draw 0-0 with Arrows at the Orlando Stadium, breaking a run of four victories in their previous games.
Mhango, who was one of Malawi’s standout players at the recent Afcon, has been a noticeable absentee in the match squad this year, and during the post match press conference, iDiski Times‘ David Kappel asked Davids about his exclusion…
“I think it’s not the time to get into why is this one’s not in, why’s that one not in, because there are a lot of players that are not in the squad,” Davids replied at the presser.
“You can name Tshegofatso Mabasa you can name Ntsikelelo Nyauza, who has come back from illness, there are a lot of players, Tlolane who is back from injury, he is available, so there are a lot of players there are fighting for their place.
“But at the moment, before this match was four matches in a row that we won, and we wanted to keep consistency.
“Yes, those players are training well, working hard. And the players in the squad at the moment, the players on the pitch, in the starting lineup, is looking over their shoulder because these players keep pushing them, and that is what you want in the team.
“We we just urge all our players in our squad all of them are so valuable to Orlando Pirates, and all of them are going to play a part.
“At the moment they have to work hard to get into the squad and when they do get the opportunity we hope they can take over the baton and do better than the players playing at the moment.
“So good competition at the moment and let’s hope it can push the team further and further and when that time comes let’s hope the media can also, as we calling for these players, support them, not just one game when we give these players a chance, and build them up and then kick them down.
“Let’s support them, let’s give them the time, their moment will come and that’s what we want, competition in the squad.”
