Mahlambi Given A Chance To Resurrect His Career
TS Galaxy coach Adnan Beganovic says Phakamani Mahlambi deserves a second chance after being given a career lifeline to train with the side.
The last time Mahlambi played a competitive match was in September 2021 for Chippa United, finding the back of the net against Orlando Pirates in a league encounter, before rupturing his Achilles Tendon days later, which kept him out for the rest of the season.
The 28-year-old is now working his way back into professional football after more than three seasons away from the game, as he is training with TS Galaxy.
Mahlambi, who was named PSL Young Player of the Season in the 2026/17 season at Bidvest Wits, has walked this path before.
He spent some time training with Durban City earlier this campaign in a bid to resurrect his career, which did not materialize.
“We decided to take him to train with us. Everybody deserves a second chance. He is a good human being, I watched some clips of when he was playing for Wits and Sundowns, he is an amazing player with amazing skills,” said Beganovic.
The former Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns forward’s brother, Seluleko, is currently on the books of Galaxy, as he continues to make a name for himself in the top flight of South African football.
“We made the decision with the chairman [Tim Sukazi], and then he asked if we wanted to put him, put him back in business. He deserves a second chance; we are so happy to have an opportunity to maybe do that. Everything is on him; he needs to push, he needs to push,” added Beganovic.
“I have seen up until now, the last five training sessions, he tries, he pushes himself, but let us give him time. It is not easy, I know he fights every day because on one hand, you have everything. You play for the biggest club in Africa, not in the country, and then you lose everything and you are at the bottom,” added the Bosnian tactician.
The man from Vryheid was once considered one of South Africa’s brightest prospects during his time at the now-defunct Wits, helping them clinch the 2016/17 league title under Gavin Hunt before departing for Al Ahly at the tender age of 19.
‘Phaka’ as he is affectionately known, was the first South African player to grace the Egyptian topflight.
“It is not about how many times you fall, it is about if you want to stand up and fight again for something, what you actually deserve and lost. It is just about that. I hope he can improve, first of all, the physical part and then tactically, and maybe if he does that, we can use him for the rest of the season,” concluded the TS Galaxy mentor.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for the Transnet School of Excellence product.
