Prolific goal scorer Gabadinho Mhango is on the verge of being dispossessed of his property by a bank after failing to service his bond.
The Malawian national and former Orlando Pirates striker, who now plies his trade with Marumo Gallants, has been served with a summons by Nedbank to pay over R1.2-million or be red-carded from his Joburg home.
Nedbank obtained the summons from the Joburg High Court, where it seeks an order to kick Mhango out of his home and sell it after the soccer star failed to keep up with his monthly bond repayment.
“Please take notice that Nedbank Limited intends to make application to this court for an order against the respondent for payment in the sum of R1 228 436.74.
“Payment of interest on the above amount at the rate of 12.60% per annum, calculated and capitalised monthly in accordance with the terms of the mortgage bond, from 1 June 2024 to date of payment,” reads the summons.
The bank also seeks an order to declare Mhango’s property in Joburg north executable and auction it to the highest bidder for R650 000 or more.
“Authorising the registrar to issue a writ of attachment for the attachment of the respondent’s immovable property. That this court set a reserve price of R650 000 for the first sale in execution,” read the papers.
The bank has given Mhango 10 days to file papers in court if he intends to oppose the application. The talented footie should thereafter file, within 15 days of filing his notice of intention to oppose, an answering affidavit.
However, although the papers were filed early this year, Mhango has not yet filed a notice of intention to oppose the application as well as an answering affidavit, leaving the bank with no option but to place the matter on the unopposed roll.
Mhango couldn’t be reached for comment, but sources close to him said that the player plans to use the image rights royalties he may get from his club to save his home.
Mhango is demanding more than R800 000 plus interest from the club for exploiting his image rights to promote, market and advertise the fixtures of the team on social media platforms ahead of its matches.
The fast-footed striker took his club to the Johannesburg High Court, where he seeks an order to force the team to pay him the quantum.
In the court papers, which we have seen, Mhango said as a professional footballer, he enjoys the benefit of commercially exploiting his image and signature rights, which include the use of his name, photograph, reputation, signature, initials, nickname and voice.
He said he had granted his agency Prosport, which is owned by Michael Makaab, the exclusive and sole mandate to use, sell or otherwise trade in his image and signature rights.
He said the use of his image and signature rights by Prosport includes entering into any contracts, including, but not limited to, licensing, sponsorship and advertising contracts, as well as contracts with football clubs involving the “sell-on” of the said rights by the agency to such football clubs for value.
He said when he joined Swallows, the agency concluded a contract with the club.
Swallows, he stated, agreed to purchase the rights to use his image and signature as a footballer of the club for a total of R828 000.
Mhango said Prosport ceded his image rights to him on August 29 last year.
“Therefore, any rights of Prosport in terms of the image and signature rights contract are now for my benefit.”
He said Gallants purchased the club from Swallows as a going concern and is responsible for all obligations in respect of any contractual agreements concluded by the Dube Birds, including the image and signature rights contract.
He said that since then, Gallants have been making use of his image and signature rights.
“On December 5, 2023, the club used an image of me in club regalia to promote its fixture against Orlando Pirates Football Club.
“On September 13, 2024, the club shared a video on its Instagram social media page of an interview conducted with me in which I share my views on an upcoming fixture and wearing the club’s jersey.
“On March 14, 2025, the club shared an image of the team sheet, which reflects my name in the starting line-up as number 7 to promote the upcoming fixture,” he stated.
Despite exploiting his image rights for its benefit, Gallants have refused to pay him.
“Notwithstanding the aforesaid use of my image and signature rights by the club, it has breached the image and signature rights contract by not making payment of any of the instalment amounts outlined in the contract.”
In light of the club’s failure to pay the instalment amounts, the full outstanding amount of R828 000 was now due and payable. Mhango said his lawyers wrote letters of demand on January 24, 2024, for payment in the amount of R428 000. They wrote another letter of demand on September 2, 2024, for payment in the amount of R400 000.
