orlando pirates

Gabadinho Mhango of Orlando Pirates gets a card during the Absa Premiership 2019/2020 football match between Chippa United and Orlando Pirates at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, in Port Elizabeth on 1 February 2020. Photo: ©Deryck Foster/BackpagePix

Orlando Pirates: Zinnbauer yet to decide on Mhango replacement

Someone will have to step up for Orlando Pirates in the absence of top goal scorer, Gabadinho Mhango.

orlando pirates

Gabadinho Mhango of Orlando Pirates gets a card during the Absa Premiership 2019/2020 football match between Chippa United and Orlando Pirates at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, in Port Elizabeth on 1 February 2020. Photo: ©Deryck Foster/BackpagePix

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has admitted that he is yet to decide who will start in place of Gabadinho Mhango ahead of the Nedbank Cup Round of 32 clash against Bidvest Wits on Sunday.

The Malawian international is the league’s leading goal scorer, having netted four times, but will not be available to play against his former side.

Zinnbauer sweats over selections

This is after collecting his fourth yellow card of the season, which resulted in an automatic one-match suspension.

The onus is on the German to pick a replacement, who can hopefully continue from where Mhango left off in terms of goal-scoring.

“We know that Gabba (Mhango) is a big player for us at the moment but in the second line we have other players,” Zinnbauer told the media.

“Now is the chance for those players who have been waiting for opportunities to take over from him.”

Josef Zinnbauer

He added;

“We are working very hard during our training sessions with the strikers and I hope to have a good hand in terms of picking the player who will replace Gabba.

“I hope that I make a good decision by choosing the player who will make the goal.”

Josef Zinnbauer

Who could step up for Orlando Pirates 

Pirates are not shot of riches in the striking department, with at least four specialist centre forwards in their ranks.

The player who has banged in the second-most goals for the Soweto Giants is another new recruit in Tshegofatso Mabasa, who was netting them in rather regularly before being usurped in the pecking order by Mhango.

The former Bloem Celtic frontman has six goals in his 14 appearances, but has seen his involvement in the team wane in recent weeks.

He could be called upon once more, but has a bit of competition, with the likes of Augustine Mulenga and Justin Shonga also in the running for a spot.

The Zambian duo have a single goal between them this season, but have had limited opportunities in the centre of Pirates’ attack.

An outsider, as far as a start on Sunday is concerned, is Zakhele Lepasa, who was a hero in the last edition of the Nedbank Cup – but in different colours.

The 23-year-old was on loan at reigning champions TS Galaxy, when scored four goals – including his famous strike in the final – in the tournament.

Pirates and Wits kick off at 15:30 (SAST) on Sunday.