Latest news with #PhakamaniMahlambi
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
'I can't save him,' says Gavin Hunt as bad boy Mahlambi pops up at Durban City
Phakamani Mahlambi has resurfaced in the Betway Premiership, with Durban City FC handing the troubled forward a trial as he looks to rescue a career that once promised to light up South African football. The 27-year-old has been without a club for nearly four years, his last top-flight appearance coming in September 2021 for Chippa United. That outing — a second-half cameo in a 2-1 defeat to Stellenbosch FC — ended with a torn Achilles tendon, cutting short his season and sparking a long spell on the sidelines. For Mahlambi, whose raw pace and flair once made him the country's most exciting young attacker, the fall from grace has been steep. His professional debut came under Gavin Hunt at Bidvest Wits in the 2015/16 season, and within two years, he was securing a dream move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly. But his time in North Africa lasted just one season before returning home to join Mamelodi Sundowns. Game time was scarce at Chloorkop, leading to a loan move to Chippa United in 2021 — where he linked up again with Hunt. Injuries, discipline issues, and inconsistency meant that momentum was never sustained. He nearly reunited with Hunt a third time at SuperSport United after a trial stint but never signed. Now, the pair find themselves together again at newly promoted Durban City, with the coach offering him a final platform to prove his worth. 'I can't revive him, he's got to revive himself, I can only give him the platform,' Hunt said after Durban City's 1-0 win over Chippa United at Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday. 'He's like any football player — I give the platform, the opportunity, but he's young. I mean, he was the brightest talent in South Africa, wasn't he?
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
'I can't save him,' says Gavin Hunt as bad boy Mahlambi pops up at Durban City
Phakamani Mahlambi (left) and Coach Gavin Hunt (right) during their last stint together at Chippa United. Image: BACKPAGEPIX Phakamani Mahlambi has resurfaced in the Betway Premiership, with Durban City FC handing the troubled forward a trial as he looks to rescue a career that once promised to light up South African football. The 27-year-old has been without a club for nearly four years, his last top-flight appearance coming in September 2021 for Chippa United. That outing — a second-half cameo in a 2-1 defeat to Stellenbosch FC — ended with a torn Achilles tendon, cutting short his season and sparking a long spell on the sidelines. For Mahlambi, whose raw pace and flair once made him the country's most exciting young attacker, the fall from grace has been steep. His professional debut came under Gavin Hunt at Bidvest Wits in the 2015/16 season, and within two years, he was securing a dream move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly. But his time in North Africa lasted just one season before returning home to join Mamelodi Sundowns. I respect Coach Gavin Hunt for a lot of things, but I respect him more for what he has done for Phakamani Mahlambi. I saw today that Phaka is being assessed by the Technical Team at Durban City FC, even if he doesn't make it but I know even himself deep down he'll know that Coach… — MIGUEL'S_BÔL (@KM_Khanyee) August 14, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Game time was scarce at Chloorkop, leading to a loan move to Chippa United in 2021 — where he linked up again with Hunt. Injuries, discipline issues, and inconsistency meant that momentum was never sustained. He nearly reunited with Hunt a third time at SuperSport United after a trial stint but never signed. Now, the pair find themselves together again at newly promoted Durban City, with the coach offering him a final platform to prove his worth. 'I can't revive him, he's got to revive himself, I can only give him the platform,' Hunt said after Durban City's 1-0 win over Chippa United at Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday. 'He's like any football player — I give the platform, the opportunity, but he's young. I mean, he was the brightest talent in South Africa, wasn't he? "Talent alone is NOT good enough...!!!" So what happened with Phakamani Mahlambi @Masandawana?? Coach @coach_rulani breaks it down on #MarawaMoments Full interview: — robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) November 24, 2020
