Mahlambi has an Olympic dream

DISAPPOINTMENT: INJURED SO MISSED OUT IN 2016

aving missed out on the last Olympics, Mamelodi Sundowns forward Phakamani Mahlambi is eager to help the national Under-23 team qualify for their second-successive Olympics, to be staged in Tokyo in 2020.

It was back in 2016 when the South Africans were preparing to go to Rio, Brazil, to compete at the Olympics, but Mahlambi was on the sidelines recovering from a career-threatening knee ligament injury which saw the speedy forward miss out on being part of the squad.

Now fit and fighting to get back to his best at ‘Downs following a spell in Egypt’s Al-Ahly, the 21year old is currently in camp with David Notoane’s men, preparing for their back-to-back Olympic qualifiers match against Angola.

The first game is set to be staged in Luanda on Friday followed by the second leg, scheduled for Bidvest Stadium on March 26.

The team only assembled for camp last Sunday, but looking at the squad, Mahlambi believes the team has what it takes to win their clash against Angola, despite having little time to prepare.

“It’s going to be difficult, but we are all professional enough, looking at the players called up, and I think we are going to do well because we have been playing in our respective clubs.

“So, coming here is just to serve the country and make sure we qualify for the Olympics,” said the former Bidvest Wits player.

“Some of the guys here played in the National Under-20 team and Under-17 teams. It’s not like we don’t know each other.

“It’s a very good squad and we should be able to qualify for the Olympics.”

Mahlambi goes on to say that he believes in Notoane, who is part of the Sundowns development structure.

The forward adds that Notoane has done well at the Pretoria outfit and he hopes all the guys in the team will understand his philosophy so that they can qualify for the Olympics.

“Knowing him from Sundowns, I know that he is a good coach with his team there because they have been doing well.

“I think he will do well and the only thing we have to do is to qualify. Hopefully, all the players will understand him and get the same message.”

The team is expected to depart for Luanda today.