Pitso’s patience could bear fruit
YOUNG STAR HAS TWO YEARS TO GET IT RIGHT
Mosimane reckons he can turn young talent into gold.
When Phakamani Mahlambi arrived at Mamelodi Sundowns from Egyptian and continental powerhouses Al-Ahly in August, his coach Pitso Mosimane was not at all impressed by the 21-year-old’s level of fitness.
However, Mosimane understood why Mahlambi was not up to speed, because at some time the former Bidvest Wits attacker was excluded from Al-Ahly’s plans and was forced to train away from the rest of the squad.
Mahlambi may have scored on his Masandawana debut against AmaZulu, but Mosimanwe believes there is still a lot more work he has to do on the youngster.
“Phakamani has just turned 21. He is full of speed and he reminds me of the time when I got Percy Tau and Khama Billiat. I still had to work on them. Keagan Dolly, Percy and Bongani Zungu all left at 23,” said Mosimane.
“We still have two years to fix lots of mistakes. I need to turn that talent into gold. He’s missed a lot of steps. He has the potential but he is a little bit erratic. He could get better. There was a ball he missed against Celtic (in the Telkom Knockout match last weekend) where he should have buried it. He was supposed to use the laces with that but he used the outside of his foot,” he added.
Mahlambi has not started either of Downs’ last two games, as Mosimane often rotates his team. He could, on the balance of probability, get a run-out tomorrow in an Absa Premiership tie against Chippa United at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium.
Mosimane also had plenty to say about the talent Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has at his disposal, but was careful not to overstep his mark.
“Bafana have got young players … Lebogang Maboe, Siphesihle Ndlovu, Lebogang Mothiba, Percy, Tebogo Mokoena. They are all around 22 and 23.
“I hope we will be patient with them because it is results that probably count … I don’t want to talk on behalf of Stuart but I think we have very good young players who we can build on and make a good team. Age is on our side in those younger ones.”