Phakamani Mahlambi Aiming for Redemption with TS Galaxy

TS Galaxy Coach Adnan Beganovic Advocates for Phakamani Mahlambi's Second Chance

TS Galaxy coach Adnan Beganovic has voiced his support for Phakamani Mahlambi, who has received an opportunity to revive his career by training with the team. The talented forward, whose last competitive appearance was in September 2021 while playing for Chippa United, faces the challenge of returning to form after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon shortly after scoring against Orlando Pirates.

At 28, Mahlambi is making a comeback to professional football after an extended absence of over three years. His efforts to reignite his career previously led him to train with Durban City, though that opportunity did not yield the desired results.

Beganovic expressed his belief in Mahlambi's potential, highlighting the player's impressive history: “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.”

Additionally, Mahlambi's brother, Seluleko, is also part of TS Galaxy and is making strides in South African top-flight 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,” Beganovic added.

The coach noted that Mahlambi has shown determination in his training sessions, stating, “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.”

Once regarded as one of South Africa's most promising talents during his tenure with the now-defunct Wits, Mahlambi helped secure the 2016/17 league title under Gavin Hunt before making a move to Al Ahly at just 19 years old, becoming the first South African to compete in the Egyptian top flight.

Beganovic concluded, “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. 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.”

The future remains uncertain for the former standout player from the Transnet School of Excellence as he seeks to rebuild his career.