Phakamani Lungisani Mahlambi (born 12 September 1997) is a South African professional soccer player.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Phakamani Lungisani Mahlambi[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 12 September 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Johannesburg, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| 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) |
| 2018–2022 | Mamelodi Sundowns | 26 | (4) |
| 2020–2021 | → AmaZulu (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2021 | → Chippa United (loan) | 3 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2015–2017 | South Africa U23 | 7 | (1) |
| 2017–2020 | South Africa | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:44, 1 October 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 October 2018 | |||
Career
editBidvest Wits
editMahlambi 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.[2] 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 represent South Africa at the 2016 Olympic Games.[3] 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.[3] He made his return from injury in December and scored a brace a league win over Free State Stars.[3]
The following year, he was invited to trial with Portuguese side Vitória de Guimarães, but a permanent move failed to materialize.[4]
Al Ahly
editMahalmbi 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.[5] Four days later, he scored a brace on his non-competitive debut for the club in a 6–0 friendly win over El Gouna.[6] 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.
Mamelodi Sundowns
editMahlambi moved from Al Ahly to Mamelodi Sundowns, but after several loan moves he would become a free agent in 2022.[7]
International career
editUnder-23
editHe 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
editEgyptian Premier League
- Winner: 2017-2018
South African Premier league
MTN 8 Cup
- Winner: 2016
Nedbank Cup
- Winner:2019–20
Telkom Knockout
- Winner: 2019
References
edit- ^ "2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations – Group A squads" (PDF). cafonline.com. Confederation of African Football. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ Klate, Chad (20 November 2015). "Phakamani Mahlambi credits Wits coach Gavin Hunt for fine form". Kick Off. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ a b c Ngidi, Njabulo (20 December 2016). "I'll never be the same after knee injury – Mahlambi". IOL. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "SA's Mahlambi in historic Ahly move". SuperSport. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- ^ "Mahlambi Bags Brace on Ahly Debut". Soccer Laduma. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- ^ "Phakamani Mahlambi Set to Become a Free Agent with Mamelodi Sundowns Expected to End Relationship".
External links
edit- Phakamani Mahlambi at Soccerway