Mongala Set to Shine

One of the players the Orlando Pirates fans will be keen to see debut at the 2009 Vodacom Challenge is former University of Pretoria winger Phenyo Mongala.

Mongala was a key player as AmaTuks completed giant-killing acts over Kaizer Chiefs, Bloemfontein Celtic and Ajax Cape Town on their way to the final of the Nedbank Cup last season. The Botswana international who joined Pirates last month is tipped to be a huge success in the Absa Premiership.

The Buccaneers open their 2009 Vodacom Challenge campaign against touring Manchester City in Polokwane on Saturday, 18 July and Mongala could well be in the starting line-up. One man who knows him well is Botswana coach Stanley Tshosane, who has high hopes for the 24-year-old. "[Pirates coach Ruud] Krol is a professional coach and there is a reason why he signed Phenyo. If he can play to his instructions, he will have a successful stay at Pirates," Tshosane told Fooball365.co.za. "I sat down with Mongala and I told him that Pirates is a big team and he has to get there and give out his best. I've known him for a long time and I believe he has the right attitude.”