Thabang impresses in debut for GU
Thabang Khuduga made a spectacular debut for Gaborone United against SuperSport United on Saturday, playing 90 minutes as a left wing back and showing his ability to both defend and attack. His coach, Pontsho Piro Moloi, was very complimentary of his performance, saying that he executed his role extremely well.
The 24-year old’s recent move from Masitaoka FC to Gaborone United has been a major step in his career. With this move, he has taken the next step in his development as a player and is now playing for one of the top teams in Botswana, now playing in CAF Confederation Cup.
With his consistent display of talent and ability, it’s no surprise that he has been gaining more national call-ups. He was part of the Zebras that went to play against Tunisia in the last AFCON qualifiers match as well as the squad that went to COSAFA 2023.
Khuduga is likely to become an even more prominent figure in the future of Botswana football. His contributions are clearly visible on the pitch, and he is sure to continue to grow and develop as a professional player at GU. In the match against SuperSport United, Khuduga played his position perfectly, balancing both offense and defense. He created numerous attacks, took shots at goal, and kept the midfield stable and organized. He was an essential part of his team's success.
Despite being his first official match with Gaborone United, he displayed an incredible level of passion and dedication throughout the entire match. He was a marvel to watch for the full 90 minutes, showing no sign of fatigue or exhaustion. It was clear that he had perfectly integrated himself into the team, despite the short time he had been with them.
The head coach of Gaborone United, Pontsho Moloi, was effusive in his praise for Thabang Khuduga's performance in the match. He expressed his happiness at the player's ability to adapt quickly to the team and said that he has shown signs of being a valuable asset to the club. “In my opinion, Thabang Khuduga had a brilliant game. He executed his roles perfectly, and I'm really proud of him. He has set the bar high for himself and the team. It's not easy to play in your debut match against a big team like SuperSport United, but he did it with confidence and made a name for himself. I'm so happy that he was able to contribute positively to the team's overall performance,” Moloi said.
According to Thabang Khuduga, he was satisfied with his performance and grateful for the opportunity to play for Gaborone United. He said that adapting to the team's style of play was not difficult for him, as he had been exposed to various clubs in the past. He also noted that he enjoys playing possession football, which is a key element of GU's game. He was confident that he could continue to contribute to the team's success.
“Playing as a left wing back requires great fitness levels, because you have to contribute both in attack and defense throughout the match. It's important to be quick and alert to cover the wide areas of the pitch and track back whenever necessary. It's a demanding role, but I'm always up for the challenge,” Khuduga said. “In order to be an effective left wing back, you need to have strong positional sense and the ability to read the game well. You have to make smart decisions about when to support the attack and when to prioritize your defensive duties.
This position suits me, because I've always been comfortable playing on the left side of the pitch,” he added. Gaborone United played Supersport United to a 1-1 draw. The second leg of the tie will take place in South Africa on September 29th, and the winner of that match will advance to the group stage of the competition.