Mahlambi to benefit from legends

STEVEN Pienaar does not just bring playing class to Bidvest Wits but also an encyclopedia of experience and knowledge that can rub off on some of the club’s youngst especially forward prodigy Phakamani Mahlambi.

Mahlambi won the Premier Soccer League’s Young Player of the Season award this week despite having missed the first half of the 2016-17 season injured.

The 19-year-old tearaway then flew to Portugal for three weeks of trials.

Should Mahlambi not make it just yet in Europe‚ one of the country’s brightest attacking talents will return to a Wits side where Pienaar has signed after 16 years playing at the highest level in Europe.

Wits coach Gavin Hunt said the professionalism Pienaar (35)‚ and also Daylon Claasen‚ who has joined the Clever Boys after nine years in Europe‚ can impart on youngsters such as Mahlambi and SA U20 right-back Reeve Frosler‚ was part of his reason for signing those players.

“You watch Daylon‚ you watch Steven, you watch these guys train. It rubs off‚” Hunt said.

Midfielder Daine Klate said the influence Pienaar can have on Wits’ youngsters is worth the ex-Ajax‚ Borussia Dortmund‚ Everton and Sunderland midfielder’s wage bill.

“It’s all about taking it in and obviously accepting information‚” Klate said.

Asked how much managing Mahlambi needs at such a tender age‚ Hunt said: “He needs a lot.

“But he’s got exciting‚ huge ability. And if you can harness that ability and get him in the right environment‚ his potential is endless.” — TimesLIVE