Mahlambi’s Exit From Galaxy Amid Botswana Move Rumours
TS Galaxy coach Adnan Beganovic has confirmed that Phakamani Mahlambi has left the club, amid reports linking the former PSL star with a move to Botswana side Mochudi Centre Chiefs.
Beganovic revealed that Mahlambi had improved his physical condition since arriving at the club, but admitted he was still far from the level required to compete in the PSL.
In January, following Galaxy’s defeat to AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Beganovic said the former Mamelodi Sundowns attacker needed to “fix his body to be a professional footballer”, adding that his physical condition had “crashed”.
Mahlambi was invited to train with Galaxy late last year, possibly influenced by the presence of his younger brother, Seluleko Mahlambi, who is on the club’s books.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who played a key role in Bidvest Wits’ 2016/17 Premiership title-winning campaign, had attempted to revive his career earlier this season at Durban City, but the move did not materialise.
Mahlambi had hoped to reunite with his former title-winning coach Gavin Hunt at City. However, he was not given sufficient time to train after struggling with the effects of an Achilles tendon injury sustained in 2021.
His last competitive appearance came on 25 September 2021, when Chippa United faced Stellenbosch, with Mahlambi on loan from Sundowns at the time. That spell at Chippa also reunited him with Hunt, who was keen to work with him again at Durban City.
“I think he left the club. I read that he is finding a club in Botswana; I saw it on social media,” said Beganovic.
“I think it is a good moment for him because he needs to find a club and start playing again. We did everything we could to help him improve, and he lost some kilos.
“He looks sharp now, much better compared to when he arrived.
“But for the PSL, for the professional level, he still needs to work to catch up with the demands of competitive matches.”
Mahlambi’s once-promising career saw him win the PSL Young Player of the Season award, which earned him a move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly for the 2017/18 season before joining Mamelodi Sundowns in 2018.
He was later loaned out by Sundowns to AmaZulu and Chippa United, where his career began to stall.
Should he complete a move to Centre Chiefs, Mahlambi would reunite with a familiar face in Evans Rusike, who previously played in the PSL for Maritzburg United (now Durban City) and SuperSport United.
