Mabululu & Pirates reject praised after beating Sundowns: They give confidence and help the team

Wiliete Sports Club coach Beto Bianchi insists the Girabola outfit made the CAF Champions League group stage owing to an impact made by two stars; Mabululu and former Orlando Pirates winger Gilberto against Mamelodi Sundowns.

Having failed to capitalise on their home ground in the goalless draw, the Angolan team forced the defending champions to a 1-1 draw in the second preliminary round to advance on an away goal rule.

While Gilberto was a thorn in the Brazilians’ defense, Mabululu capitalised on a blunder by the hosts to score the vital goal that sent his team to the group stage in their debut.

Bianchi has now underlined the importance of the two attackers in the team.

Mabululu and Gilberto lauded for lifting Wiliete

“Mabululu is an experienced player, he knows African football. Not only African football but international football because he’s a player for the national team and he played abroad for the last couple of years,” Bianchi said as quoted by the National Broadcaster.

“He’s helped his teammates, in the second half we had to change him because there’s this boy in the youth team, he’s 20 years old, so it’s the first time he played at this level. These kinds of players like Mabululu and Gilberto also who played in South Africa, they give confidence and help the young players in the team.

“What we did [in South Africa] is really good for the club, so for the growth of the club. It’s a new club, it has been growing step by step not only here in the Champions League or CAF competitions, but also at home. 

“This club has a big value because of the rival that we just defeated, which has been really great for our club because of Mamelodi Sundowns win,” he concluded.