What started as a promising season for Gabadinho Mhango is quickly turning into a nightmare as the striker now faces an uncertain future at Marumo Gallants, KickOff has established.
Mhango made headlines for the wrong reasons during the week after a video emerged on social media, where he was seen in an alleged drunken state behind the wheel.
The allegation is that the Malawian crashed into a Toyota Quantum minibus taxi, and in the video can be seen with blood on his face, with curious onlookers swarming the periphery of the vehicle he was driving, eager to catch a glimpse of his state.
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Although the Malawian forward has not suffered life-threatening injuries, indications from a reliable source at the club are that the 32-year-old is facing the music.
Despite denials by head coach Dan Malesela, who told this publication on Thursday that he was yet to speak to Mhango and that he has not established the facts, reliable information from a high-ranking source at the club that the player is, in fact, in hot water.
According to a high-ranking insider at Gallants, the ex-Orlando Pirates man would be fortunate to still be regarded as their player after a DC hearing.
"What Mhango did is not taken lightly by the club at all. For whatever reason known to the technical team, Mhango was not in the matchday squad [against AmaZulu FC], but as a professional, he is expected to carry himself as such during his spare time," a source revealed to KickOff.
"Especially for a player of that status, having played for Orlando Pirates, and as a senior player, he is expected to be a role model. There were 60-odd players when Gallants bought the status of Moroka Swallows and it is like he is ungrateful for the opportunity.
"The club has big ambitions, as they are now aligning with the [Bloemfontein] Celtic brand and to attract sponsors, the discipline of players is paramount."
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"It's going to be difficult for Mhango to return to the club, because as things stand, they are determined on making him an example to other players that such behaviour will not be tolerated.
"What is making the situation worse for him is that he has had similar acts of ill-discipline from his previous clubs, which are now public knowledge," added the insider.