The mere mention of Phakamani Mahlambi’s name revokes memories of the kid who tormented opponents as a teenager at Bidvest Wits.
Yet, it also sends reminders of a career that has been lost to the wilderness due to lifestyle choices.
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So much was expected of Mahlambi as he harassed defenders with his pace, provided assists, scored goals, and set the local scene alight as a teenager in his debut season (2015/16).
This was a kid destined to reach top levels of European football and carry the weight of the Bafana Bafana load on his shoulders.
All looked on course as he earned his first Bafana cap in March 2017.
However, fast-forward to March 2024, and Mahlambi hasn’t played football for periods stretching 30 months.
Fact is that the speedster last played competitive football in September 2021 while he was on loan at Chippa United from Mamelodi Sundowns.
Mahlambi joined Sundowns in 2018 after spending a year at Al Ahly in Egypt and in six years since his return has only had a single solid season.
This was his first (2018/19) back in the country when he scored six goals in 29 appearances.
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The next season he scored once at Sundowns then went away to AmaZulu FC, where he played thrice, before playing only three games again on loan at Chippa in the 2021/22 campaign.
Mahlambi will not turn 27 until mid-September, but such has been the reputational damage to his name that his next move could be a struggle.
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