Mhango silences critics as Richards Bay Chairman praises Flames star’s conduct

Richards Bay chairman Sifiso Biyela has expressed his satisfaction with Gabadinho Mhango’s behavior and professionalism, dismissing concerns about the Malawi international striker’s discipline following his controversial departure from Orlando Pirates.

The PSL transfer window closed on Monday, September 22, with Richards Bay among the clubs making strategic acquisitions as they look to improve on their previous campaign’s struggles before managing a late surge to secure a top-eight finish.

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Gabadinho Mhango’s move to the Natal Rich Boys raised eyebrows in South African football circles, particularly given the circumstances surrounding his exit from Orlando Pirates. The Malawi international, who was once a key figure at the Soweto giants, found himself on the periphery before eventually parting ways with the club amid questions about his attitude and commitment.

However, Biyela has been vindicated in his decision to take a chance on the talented striker, revealing that Mhango has been exemplary in his conduct since joining the club three months ago.

Speaking to FARPost, Biyela defended his recruitment strategy and specifically addressed the skepticism surrounding Mhango’s signing.

“You must go for what you want and what you need, not what is available in the market,” the chairman explained, emphasizing the club’s targeted approach to player recruitment.

“Right now, we are fine; we have people in all positions. To be honest, I’m impressed with all the players we’ve signed—the way they’ve fit into the team and the commitment they have,” Biyela added.

The chairman was particularly emphatic when addressing the doubts about Mhango’s character and professionalism.

“There was a lot of noise about his behavior when we signed Mhango, but he has been here for three months and there hasn’t been a single issue,” Biyela concluded, clearly pleased with his decision to back the Malawi striker.

Mhango’s successful integration at Richards Bay represents a significant turnaround for a player whose reputation had been questioned. The former Pirates star appears to have found a fresh start at the KwaZulu-Natal-based club, where he has been able to demonstrate his commitment and professionalism away from the spotlight and pressure that comes with playing for one of South Africa’s biggest clubs.

The striker’s conduct over the past three months suggests that perhaps the issues at Pirates were more circumstantial than character-related, and that a change of environment was exactly what Mhango needed to rediscover his best form both on and off the pitch.

For Richards Bay, Mhango’s signing represents more than just acquiring a talented striker—it demonstrates the club’s ambition and willingness to take calculated risks on players who can make a difference. The chairman’s satisfaction with not just Mhango but all of the club’s recent signings suggests that the Natal Rich Boys are building a squad capable of improving on their previous season’s performance.

With Mhango settling well into the team structure and proving his critics wrong, Richards Bay appears to have made a shrewd acquisition that could pay dividends as they look to establish themselves as consistent performers in the PSL.