Rough diamond
Mosimane admits star player needs proper coaching
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has never been one to mince his words and he came out with guns blazing when he said star player Phakamani Mahlambi was never coached properly.
A forthright ago, Mosimane said Mahlambi was a long way from becoming a complete player and he still needed to work very hard on the deceptive star, who scored against former club Bidvest Wits in a 1-1 drawn Absa Premiership League match on Saturday.
“Ey Phaka [Mahlambi]‚ ey I have a lot of work to do with Phaka‚” Mosimane said.
Mahlambi‚ who scooped the Young Absa Premiership Player of the Year gong after winning the league title with Wits in 2016/2017 season‚ joined Sundowns in July 2018 from Egyptian giants Al Ahly after struggling to cement a place with the North African powerhouse.
“Phaka . . . eish he’s raw‚ raw‚ raw‚ huh. Phaka, we are starting to coach him on how to play football at the club.
“Of course he’s got the speed‚ he can shoot and he can score. And we wanted Phaka’s speed to get behind Wits.
“Same as Wits‚ they had [Fagrie] Lakay and [Deon] Hotto to use for their speed and they got what they wanted because Lakay went beyond Wayne [Arendse] and you saw that.
“So that’s what we wanted [from Mahlambi] also‚ but yah what can you do? You’ve got to accept. It’s the way it is.”
Mahlambi has not started all the matches at Sundowns this season but his goal against Wits should encourage him as it was his second of the season in the league.
Sundowns host Cape Town City at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane on Wednesday in another league match that Mosimane admitted would be tough.
A win for Sundowns could see them going one point clear of log-leaders Bidvest Wits who are top of the table, with 38 points after 21 matches.
The Brazilians will meet City carrying a two-game advantage over Wits and secondplaced Orlando Pirates.
Meanwhile, Sundowns’ disciplinary committee (DC) case over fielding ineligible player Arendse in a game against Wits has been heard‚ and judgment has been reserved.
Arguments were made at the Premier Soccer League DC on Monday night‚ PSL prosecutor Nande Becker said.
The case relates to Sundowns fielding Arendse in a 1-1 draw against Wits at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on October 7, when the defender had not been named in the match squad of 18‚ contrary to PSL regulations.
“There was a DC. The matter was argued‚ and judgment has been reserved‚” Becker said.
“This is just on the question of the misconduct – we haven’t yet dealt with sanctions or anything like that.”
Becker said he had no idea when the judgment would be passed.
“They [Sundowns] raised quite a complicated legal argument. So I think that bares some consideration and investigation by the DC as such‚” he said.
The case is important as it might impact the PSL title race.
Wits could be awarded two points‚ and Sundowns lose one, if Downs are found guilty. –