Durban City coach Gavin Hunt says the door is still open for one-time 'next South African superstar' Phakamani Mahlambi to revive his career and return to the top-flight football scene.
Mahlambi has resurfaced in KwaZulu-Natal, training with Durban City after spending more than three years in the wilderness.
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Both he and Hunt and worked together at Wits before the blistering attacker joined Egyptian giants Al Ahly in a big-money move back in 2017.
He then returned to South Africa the following year, penning a five-year contract with Mamelodi Sundowns in hopes of putting his nightmarish stint in North Africa behind him.
The lad once likened to a young Benni McCarthy by Hunt spent two seasons at Chloorkop and was later loaned out to AmaZulu FC.
Alleged off-field disciplinary issues reared their head and turned the world that was once his oyster upside down. By then, Mahlambi had also turned out for Chippa United.
Hunt is ready to give the winger, who turns 28 next month, a lifeline and a chance to revive his soccer career at his home province.
"He has to keep training, he has to keep running. He has to keep training and if something happens, something happens. I told him, he knows, he has accepted that," said Hunt after the game against Golden Arrows at the Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
