Malawi head coach Patrick Mabedi has dropped 31-year-old striker Gabadinho Mhango ahead of tomorrow’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe, despite the player’s good form for his club, Moroka Swallows, where he has five goals in eight DSTV Premiership games.

Mabedi has defended his decision to drop the striker, claiming that Mhango is getting older and that he is dropping him to bring fresh legs to the Flames squad.

He said, “We sometimes need to accept change and transition in football. We must look at the future because the reality is that Gaba will not always be here for the national team and we need to find replacements for him.

“We need to prepare players that will take over from him.  He is one of my sons. Like I said, he is a very good player, but the reality of life is that we need to prepare young players to take over from him and others. When I was at Kaizer Chiefs, they had to prepare young players to take over from me and others.”

Gabadihno Mhango’s response

Mabedi also stated that during the Four Nations Tournament in March held in Lilongwe, where Malawi failed to win a single game, Mhango struggled to adapt to the formation used, so he was dropped.

However, speaking with BolaNews from his base, Mhango, said he respects Mabedi’s decision but has seen older players play football even at the age of 40.

“There is nothing much I can say; that’s the opinion of the coach,” Mhango said. “I have seen old people in football playing at the age of 40. That’s fine with me; I am still in my prime, and I can still play football.

“My time will come again; that’s not the end of the day. I have seen players older than me playing for their teams, but that’s what the coach has seen. I will still give the team all support.”

Mhango has scored 15 goals for the Flames of Malawi and he is the current top scorer.