Katlego Mashigo bringing some swagger back to Finn Park

Katlego Mashigo admits that coming to Finn Park in the past, as an opposing player, was never a nice experience. 

It was a battleground and it was a venue where the crowd always played its part. But now that he’s decked out in blue, the South African born midfielder says that same energy charge is potent. 

Having previously worked beside Darren Murphy at Portadown, the Harps assistant boss was quick to recommend the player’s services to Dave Rogers when the Liverpudian first came on board as boss in Ballybofey. 

It’s taken a little time to gel but Mashigo believes Harps are finally finding their groove. From their six games to date, they’ve lost two, drawn three and won one. 

However, since those opening pair of reversals against Galway United and Athlone Town, Harps are now unbeaten in their last four. They went two up against Cobh Ramblers last Friday night in an explosive opening 45 minutes on Navenny Street - their best spell of football to date under the new managerial regime. 

And while that pulsating contest did eventually end all square, you believe Mashigo when he tells you that Harps are going to get even better as this term progresses. 

“I’d played here one or twice in the past and it was always such a difficult place to come to,” he said. “There was the journey up and then it’d be such a battle on the field. And the crowd was always behind them. When the fixtures would come out you always looked to see when Finn Harps away was!” 

When his time at Portadown came to an end at the beginning of this year, a familiar voice immediately put in a probing telephone call.  

“Dave has come in and he’s looking to steer Harps in a certain direction, a really brave one. I’d known Murph’ from my time at Portadown. He got in touch and explained just what Dave’s plans were for the club. 

“I knew right away that it was something that was going to appeal to me, suit me. The style of play and how Harps want to approach the season, I felt it was a really good fit. My best attributes are getting the ball down and playing. 

“Harps want to get up and down the pitch, get wide, get crossed in and I think Dave can really get the best out of me”.

He added: “Going into training every day and being able to express yourself, it’s refreshing. On the pitch, you’re playing for the team but you’re also playing for Dave and Murph as well, you know what I mean? It takes a lot of courage to go about your business the way we’re trying to. 

“But you have to earn the right to play. And young players make mistakes. But as long as we learn from them then that’s the real key. And I feel we’re learning quickly.  

“Our shape has been really good - and we’ve worked so hard on that. Last weekend, even though it ended 2-2, I’m sure the supporters felt they were involved in the entire 90 minutes. We want to kick on now. 

“Honestly, we see and we feel the improvement every week. There is a spring in our step. We’re growing in confidence. Looking around the dressing room, this is such a young team. It’s a brand new team as well. 

“Confidence, it takes a little while to get that together, individually and collectively. You need to see it or hints of it. Then you’re like, ‘yeah, we’re moving in the right direction here’. We’ve had little markers like that first point, that first win and now those first goals from play”.

Ahead of Friday night’s trip to Waterford Mashigo, who has been capped by his country at senior level, explains he has plenty of motivation to do well.   

“We’re all looking forward to Waterford now. Cobh came to Ballybofey second in the table. They’re a really good side. So approaching the second round of games now, we have a really good feel of what this league is going to throw at us. 

“And, like I said, as a new team this initial period was always going to be a settling in kind of one. But what we produced in that first half last time out, that’s what we’re capable of. 

“We just need to find that consistency now throughout the entire game. But it’s exciting because I feel we’re all just finding our feet now.  I think we can continue to improve which is a real positive.

“I spent a year at Waterford and I have some good friends there. Some family will be coming down. I don’t think I showed what I can do there so… not that I want to prove anything but I just want to show that I’m good enough for this level.

“My time there, we were struggling at the time and it was also my first time as a pro. So it just didn’t go how I would have liked”.

Last summer the 22-year-old realised a boyhood dream when he was called into the senior South African national team squad ahead of the COSAFA Cup - an annual competition for teams from Southern Africa. 

He’d love the chance to do that again but, for the meantime, he’s determined to help push Harps as far up the First Division table as he can. 

“It was an unbelievable experience,” he said. “I’m South African - I moved here when I was five. We go back every year. English is my second language. At home I speak Tswana. Mum and dad kept that culture alive. 

“I was with the U-20s (national side) when I was at Bohs. The U-20 boss then got the assistant manager’s job with the first team.  I’d a good end to the season with Portadown. I got a little bit of luck as the national team had a few injuries. 

“But I was invited over as part of a 30-man squad for a week’s camp. That was trimmed to 23 ahead of the tournament. But I was kept on. It was brilliant, something I’m really proud of. 

“I’d love to do it again, obviously. I’d watched all those lads in the AFCON so to be training with them, sharing the breakfast and dinner table with my heroes, it was a real learning experience”.