Mongala issues GU warning to Pirates

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Thursday January 21, 2010 00:00

 

Pirates and GU meet in a CAF Champions League preliminary tie next month. Mongala admits his club is miles ahead of GU in all respects but says anything can happen in a game of football. The first leg of the preliminaries is set for the weekend of 12-14 February in Gaborone.

'In football, there are no small teams so it would be folly for us to go there (Gaborone) thinking we will trample over GU. Obviously they are also eager to do well in the Champions League and they will fight to do so. They are the league champions in Botswana, which means they are good enough to play in the Champions League,' he told Mmegi Sport. 

Pirates are scheduled to play another Gaborone giant Township Rollers in a friendly at the end of the month. Mongala is relishing the prospect of facing his former club in the preparatory match. 'It will obviously be good for me to play against my former team. I'm glad they are currently doing well and that will help us as we prepare for the Champions League,' he said.

Mongala struggled to break into the Bucs' starting line-up at the beginning of the season after joining them from the University of Pretoria.

The Botswana international finally made his first Premier League appearance for Pirates against Maritzburg United early in November. He proved his mettle in the game and followed it up with another fine performance against Bloemfontein Celtic when he created Pirates' third goal. He says lack of game time has not frustrated him.

'I was new at the club and I had to work my way into the team. I found good players at the club and it was not going to be easy to get a starting place in the team. But I'm glad the coaches gave me a chance to prove what I could do for the club. I know I have to continue working hard,' says the Zebras' star.

The South African league is still on recess but Pirates have been playing friendly matches. On Saturday, the Bucs beat Mpumalanga Black Aces 2-1 with Mongala coming in as a second half substitute. They face Moroka Swallows on Saturday before clashing with Zambian giants, ZANACO three days later.