Injury-hit Mhlongo has a bright future
BRIGHTON MHLONGO walked into the Orlando Stadium auditorium on Wednesday night clutching his Man of the Match award and a pack of pills in his left hand.
In a way, that perfectly describes the season he has had. It has been a mix of brilliant performances that have kept the Buccaneers in many matches and an injury that kept him out of more. The 2-0 victory over struggling University of Pretoria was the goalkeeper’s first match back since he tore his ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) in August against SuperSport United. Before that he had made the No 1 jersey his, donning it ahead of Equatorial Guinea’s No 1 Felipe Ovono and Siyabonga Mpontshane. He produced some good displays in the CAF Confederation Cup where he was looking to make a name for himself on the continent like his idol and friend, the late, Senzo Meyiwa did with his exploits in the 2013 CAF Champions League. Like most good things in his life, those dreams were dashed just before he realised them. Now he has to start all over again.
“It was frustrating watching the team struggle from the stands and I couldn’t help them, given the fact that I was gaining confidence and momentum with my performances,” Mhlongo said. “I just told myself that Siya and Ovono will do the job. Whoever gets the nod has to worry about making the team proud because at the end of the day it’s not about an individual or the name at the back but the badge in front.
“Being out for that long was one of those things that I had to go through to be a better man. In order to be a great player, I need to go through these obstacles. I have learned a lot throughout my playing career, as young as I am. I have went through stuff that most of the guys would think maybe they should give up if they happened to them. I have learned that I need to preserve. No matter how hard it is. One day the sun shall shine for me.”
While the sun is yet to shine for the 10th placed Pirates, the victory over AmaTuks brought some small ray of positive energy. But a dark cloud still looms large over coach Eric Tinkler while the club sits in an unfamiliar position. A win, however, in their game in hand would put Pirates in the top eight but it won’t be that simple as that because they have to grind out a result to move up the standings while their confidence is yet to be at 100 percent. It is slowly getting there though. The club will be looking to continue with what has been a good start to the year, after picking up four points in their first two games, when they visit Maritzburg United in the KwaZuluNatal capital tomorrow at 8.15pm at Harry Gwala Stadium.
Pirates will still be without Oupa Manyisa who is expected to return at the end of March or the start of April while Happy Jele started training yesterday.
“I have been analysing the games that we have been playing during my absence,” Mhlongo said. “What we needed the most was to stabilise the defence and improve the communication. That is important, so that we can bring back that confidence because when your defence in you, the whole team will rise up to work harder and score goals.”