Phakamani Mahlambi

Phakamani Lungisani Mahlambi (born 12 September 1997) is a South African professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for AmaZulu F.C. and the South African national football team. [2]

Phakamani Mahlambi
Personal information
Full name Phakamani Lungisani Mahlambi[1]
Date of birth (1997-09-12) 12 September 1997
Place of birth Johannesburg, South Africa
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 AmaZulu
Number 34
Youth career
2011–2013 Transnet School of Excellence
2013–2015 Bidvest Wits
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Bidvest Wits 27 (9)
2017–2018 Al Ahly 12 (1)
2018–2020 Mamelodi Sundowns 26 (4)
2020– AmaZulu
National team‡
2015– South Africa U23 7 (1)
2017– South Africa 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:44, 1 October 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 October 2018

Career

Bidvest Wits

Mahlambi started his professional career at Bidvest Wits. He made his debut for the side under manager Gavin Hunt during the 2014–15 season in a 2–1 win over Ajax Cape Town.[3] He became a regular for the Premier Soccer League scoring crucial goals for the side. He scored a brace against Platinum Stars in a 4–0 win. He continued his rich vein of form by scoring another goal against Chippa United.

In February 2016, Mahlambi suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in a 2–1 win over Maritzburg United. He was ruled out for 10 months and as a result missed the remainder of the season and the chance to represented South Africa at the 2016 Olympic Games.[4] Following the injury, Mahlambi required surgery to reattach the ligament in the knee. Doctors revealed that a strand from his hamstring would be removed to do so but indicated that such a procedure would likely have a negative effect his career. In order to avoid such a scenario, Mahlambi's brother, a trialist with Wits himself at the time, provided his own hamstring for the operation.[4] He made his return from injury in December and scored a brace a league win over Free State Stars.[4]

The following year, he was invited to trial with Portuguese side Vitória de Guimarães, but a permanent move failed to materialize.[5]

Al Ahly

Mahalmbi signed a four-year contract with Al Ahly SC on 7 September 2017 for a reported fee of €R1.3 million. Upon joining the club, he became the first South African footballer ever to play in Egypt.[6] Four days later, he scored a brace on his non-competitive debut for the club in a 6–0 friendly win over El Gouna.[7] On 20 November Mahalambi made his first official debut in Egyptian Premier League against Ismaily SC in 2–0 win. Phakamani scored his first goal with Al Ahly against El Mokawloon on 8 February 2018.

International career

Under-23

He started his international career playing for the South African Under-23. He assisted the team to qualify for the Rio Olympics for the first time in 15 years. For South Africa to earn this achievement, Mahlambi scored a goal and assisted a further three. He scored the winning penalty in the third place playoff against the hosts Senegal.

Honours

South African Premier Division

  • Winner:2018-2019, 2019-20

Nedbank Cup

  • Winner:2019-20

Telkom Knockout

References
  1. "2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations - Group A squads" (PDF). cafonline.com. Confederation of African Football. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  2. "AmaZulu to unveil Phakamani Mahlambi, Veli Mothwa as new signings". Kick Off. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  3. Klate, Chad (20 November 2015). "Phakamani Mahlambi credits Wits coach Gavin Hunt for fine form". Kick Off. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  4. Ngidi, Njabulo (20 December 2016). "I'll never be the same after knee injury – Mahlambi". IOL. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  5. Klate, Chad (6 September 2017). "Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt: Phakamani Mahlambi learnt a lot on trial at Portugal's Vitoria Guimaraes". Kick Off. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  6. "SA's Mahlambi in historic Ahly move". SuperSport. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  7. "Mahlambi Bags Brace On Ahly Debut". Soccer Laduma. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
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