Shonga netted twice for the Zambian national team in two recent 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau.
The 21-year-old seems to be more effective for Chipolopolo than he has been for The Buccaneers, with whom he has managed just one goal and an assist in 10 outings this season.
However, Sredojevic is positive the two goals on the international stage will come as a welcome confidence injection that will ultimately enhance his game on the domestic front.
“The moment he arrived [from Zambia] and attended training, my first question was, ‘Did you bring your scoring boots with you?’” joked Sredojevic.
“Anyhow, in a more serious aspect, he had his problems in July/August. He has improved a lot and returned to where he is supposed to be – in the starting team.
“He worked very well in the last match, he was unlucky to miss those three clear-cut chances he had [against AmaZulu], that could have made him the hero on the day.
“With that competitive mood he went and scored a goal at home and a goal away against Guinea-Bissau, and this is something we are banking on now.”
‘Micho’ has conceded though, that this will not happen only by chance but by Shonga’s continued efforts as well as the support of the technical team and his teammates.
“But it [his scoring form] will not come automatically, he needs to focus fully on our jersey so that those scoring boots are transferred to the black and white shirt of Orlando Pirates,” he added.
“I know that he’s now much more focused and concentrated, and a striker gets confidence only when he scores. Judging from the two goals he scored, it is two good injections of confidence.
“Now, it is on us as the technical team to support him and his teammates to supply him, and on himself to – once he has opened the account – to deposit in it.”
The Serbian tactician is hopeful that soon there will be renditions of ‘Justin Shonga is on fire’.
“So, we are looking forward to getting the best out of him and I wish the time will come where we shall sing a song, ‘Justin Shonga is on fire!’”