SA’s Mahlambi out for U20 World Cup
BIDVEST Wits forward star Phakamani Mahlambi has been withdrawn from the Amajita squad for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in South Korea with a hamstring injury.
Mahlambi has been replaced by Ajax Cape Town defender Sirgio Kammies‚ the SA Football Association (Safa) said yesterday.
The withdrawal of arguably the brightest U20 talent available to South Africa comes as a big blow to Amajita coach Thabo Senong and his squad.
Mahlambi missed the Rio Olympics in August last year with SA’s U23 team due to a debilitating and almost careerending knee ligament injury.
Safa said Mahlambi sustained his injury while training with his club.
“As per the Fifa rules for the tournament‚ no player can be replaced in the squad without proof of an injury‚” Safa said.
Mahlambi had been the figure of a tug-of-war battle between Absa Premiership titlechasing Wits and Safa‚ who called the club to a disciplinary hearing for not releasing the star in time for the South African U20s’ departure for the World Cup last week.
Amajita open their tournament against Japan in Suwon‚ South Korea, on Sunday.
Bafana Bafana and SA U20 team doctor Thulani Ngwenya said Mahlambi’s injury had been inspected and found to be very significant.
“Judging from the evidence from the ultrasound film that has been sent by Mahlambi’s club, and has been forwarded to the Fifa medical office, the injury is significant and unfortunately can’t be managed before any of our World Cup games‚” Ngwenya said.
“Surgery would be a better option to enhance recovery, but Mahlambi will still not be ready for this World Cup tournament, and for that reason he has been withdrawn.”
Amajita are also waiting on Wits right back Reeve Frosler and SuperSport United central midfielder Teboho Mokoena – who have also been at the centre of disputes between their clubs and Safa – to report in South Korea.
Senong said: “It is very unfortunate that Phakamani cannot be with us‚ but we have to forge ahead.
“This has given us a chance to re-evaluate our squad‚ so we decided to call up Sirgio Kammies to add numbers to our defence, because we feel we have enough strength in attack.
“Kammies was part of the team’s preparations prior to the U20 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Zambia [in March] as well as the World Cup‚ so he knows the team and how we operate.”
South Africa’s group also includes Italy and Uruguay.
‘ This has given us a chance to re-evaluate our squad