Phakamani Mahlambi

Phakamani Mahlambi
Personal information
Full name Phakamani Lungisani Mahlambi[1]
Date of birth (1997-09-12) 12 September 1997 (age 27)
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)
2020–2021AmaZulu (loan) 2 (0)
2021Chippa 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

Phakamani Lungisani Mahlambi (born 12 September 1997) is a South African professional soccer player.

Career

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Bidvest Wits

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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.[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

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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.[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

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Mahlambi moved from Al Ahly to Mamelodi Sundowns, but after several loan moves he would become a free agent in 2022.[7]

International career

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Under-23

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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

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Egyptian Premier League

South African Premier league

MTN 8 Cup

Nedbank Cup

Telkom Knockout

References

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  1. ^ "2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations – Group A squads" (PDF). cafonline.com. Confederation of African Football. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  2. ^ Klate, Chad (20 November 2015). "Phakamani Mahlambi credits Wits coach Gavin Hunt for fine form". Kick Off. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Ngidi, Njabulo (20 December 2016). "I'll never be the same after knee injury – Mahlambi". IOL. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "SA's Mahlambi in historic Ahly move". SuperSport. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Mahlambi Bags Brace on Ahly Debut". Soccer Laduma. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Phakamani Mahlambi Set to Become a Free Agent with Mamelodi Sundowns Expected to End Relationship".
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