Leal throws 'Mzambiya' a life-line

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Thursday July 21, 2011 00:00

 

The dreadlocked player has made the cut after new coach, Julio Leal trimmed the squad from 44 to 32. The Brazilian who replaced Ruud Krol late last month, was forced to trim his squad with five new signings coming in.

The Buccaneers have signed Siyabonga Sangweni, Sameegh Doutie, Rudolf Bester from Namibia, Njabulo Ntusi and Lizo Mjempu. Pirates' spokesperson, Mickey Modisane believes Mongala's survival is a sign that he still has a chance to break into the first 11.

The player was in the terraces when his teammates held English side Tottenham Hotspurs to a 1-1 draw in the ongoing Vodacom Challenge at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Tuesday night.

'It is not true that Mongala has been transfer-listed; he's actually in camp with the team. He must just work hard, he has been here and we had a squad of 44 players and the coach ended up with 32 and Phenyo is part of the 32 so he must just continue working hard,' Modisane told Mmegi Sport yesterday.

Pirates take on Kaizer Chiefs at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth this evening to decide who meets Hotspurs in the final of the Vodacom Challenge on Saturday.  Modisane said Mongala still has the remaining Vodacom Challenge match and the Carling Cup to impress the new coach. He does not rule out the possibility of a loan deal for the former Township Rollers star.

'It is football and anything is possible. It is still off-season and we are preparing for the new season. We will hear from the coach and the entire technical team who are preparing the players ahead of the season.

We have the Vodacom Challenge and the Carling Cup coming up. Let us see what happens,' he said. Mongala spent much of last season on the sidelines and at some stage indicated that he was considering a loan move to get game time. Yesterday, he declined to speak about his fate.  Mongala is aware that breaking into the team will be a mammoth task with the return of Daine Klate from a long injury lay-off. Besides Klate, Pirates have rattling wingers like Tlou Segolela, Mark Mayambela and Dikgang Mabalane who have kept Mongala out of action.