Benguela - There is something about continental football that seems to bring the best out of Thamsanqa Gabuza.
While he is generally poor in the domestic league - he has scored just one goal this season - out in the continent the big striker is something of a beast.
On Friday, when he scored the goal that gave Bafana Bafana a 2-1 lead in their World Cup qualifying match against Angola, which the South Africans eventually won 3-1, someone asked on Twitter why was it that Gabuza is struggling at home.
The response did not address the domestic issue but rather highlighted the Orlando Pirates ace’s fantastic showing in the CAF Confederation Cup in which the Buccaneers have reached the final.
Gabuza has scored five goals in the tournament with his performances seeing him among the nominees in the initial CAF shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year award for players based in Africa.
Sure he may have since fallen off the list, but that does not diminish the key role Gabuza played in Pirates’ progression to the ultimate stage where they will take on Tunisian giants Etoile du Sahel in the first leg on Saturday night at Orlando Stadium.
His splendid showing was on display again on Friday here as he shone for Bafana. His goal, a sweetly struck shot from close range following a fantastically threaded through pass from Mandla Masango, turning the tie in Bafana’s favour.
Ever humble, though, Gabuza was simply delighted to have played a role in earning his country a valuable victory and was loathe to have the focus on himself.
“We showed character to win after going down so early and I am just happy I contributed a goal,” he said after the match.
And Gabuza was quick to refute any suggestions that the tie was over as a contest, describing Angola as a good outfit that do not give up the fight.
“It was not easy, because they are a very good team. They are strong on the wings and they have some very good players,” he said. “We just need to go back home and work very hard to make sure we finish things up. So we’ll knock the ball around and show them what we’re made of.”
And if his recent performances in the Bafana colours are anything to go by, there’s every possibility Gabuza will play yet another key role for Bafana at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday night.
Friday’s goal was the 28-year-old’s fourth for the national team this year - Gabuza scored against the selfsame Angola on June 16 in a friendly in Cape Town, in a CHAN preliminary tie against Mauritius, as well as in a shock defeat against Mauritania.
He would, however, love nothing more than to hit the net in front of his home crowd on Tuesday.
“Yes it will be nice to score in my home province,” Gabuza said.
Very few will bet against him doing just that, such is his scoring vein of form in continental matches.
Weekend Argus