Mahlambi’s star is on the rise
Under-23s’ Olympic dream suffers setback
PHAKAMANI Mahlambi just might be the most exciting striker to emerge in South Africa since Benni McCarthy.
His Bidvest Wits coach, Gavin Hunt, and the man who played a part in the 18-year-old’s development at the School of Excellence, Khabo Zondo, both warn it’s far too early to tell.
But the early signs are that the kid who seems too small to be a striker, but has torn through defences with blistering pace to score four goals in three games for The Students, does seem to possess a McCarthyesque star quality.
And who knows? Hunt has compared the teen with the former FC Porto, Blackburn Rovers and Ajax Amsterdam striker, who the Wits mentor promoted from the youth level at Seven Stars, saying Mahlambi is better at the same age. The youngster said he’s taking such comparisons in his stride.
“It’s a good pressure that is going to improve my game a lot,” he said.
“I know where I need to improve — getting behind the ball and marking. I think I’m saving energy to go forward by not doing it, but coach Gavin doesn’t like it — he needs me to come back, so I’ll do it.
“I’m small, I can’t hold the ball up. But I can make runs outside defenders — I’ve got skill and can do what I want with the ball. That’s the freedom the coach has given me.” STRIKER Ibrahima Keita grabbed a first-half brace as hosts Senegal dented South Africa’s Olympic hopes with a deserved 3-1 victory in their opening Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations Group A clash at the Stade Léopold Senghor in the capital Dakar yesterday.
Shambolic defending allowed Keita two soft goals before Phumlani Ntshangase struck back from the penalty spot to keep South Africa in the game.
Their fate was sealed by a late strike from substitute Sidy Sarr after he was allowed to turn and shoot in the box.
Head coach Owen da Gama will be pleased with some of his side’s attacking play, but will know they need to defend much better if they are to go deep into the competition.
The home side took the lead against the run of play as South Africa captain Kwanda Mngonyama allowed Ismaila Sarr to get goal-side of him and hauled the pacey forward down for a clear penalty.
Keita sent South Africa
Hunt said Mahlambi is less of a natural goal-scorer than McCarthy.
“To compare him to Benni — it’s not about comparing, it’s about the potential. What I saw goalkeeper Ricardo Goss the wrong way and Senegal led inside 16 minutes.
It was 2-0 shortly afterwards as Keita was inexplicably left all alone inside the penalty box after Abbubaker Mobara had been dispossessed and provided a neat finish over Goss for a goal that Da Gama will feel was far too simple in its construction.
But South Africa had a route back into the game with a penalty just before the half-hour mark when striker Phakamani Mahlambi was hauled down and Ntshangase rifled into the corner.
South Africa had a let-off shortly afterwards when Ismaila Sarr again beat his man but this time his chip over Goss was cleared off the line by Rivaldo Coetzee.
Sidy Sarr made the points safe for the home side when he drilled the ball low into the corner with four minutes remaining.
The top three teams in the competition qualify for the Olympics in Rio, Brazil, next year. South Africa’s next fixture is against Zambia on Tuesday, before they finish their pool play against Tunisia on Friday. in Benni I’ve seen in this kid as well,” the Wits coach said.
“Benni obviously was a much better goal-scorer.
“This kid is certainly one of the brighter players I’ve seen for a long, long time.
“Mahlambi is not a natural finisher, but he can finish, and he’s lightning sharp. He always looks like scoring.
“He’s raw in the sense of when to release the ball, when to run with it, when to be in the right place defensively. But he’s got all the attributes, and he’s only 18. And for me he’s very mature at 18 already.”
The teen’s goals have seen him called up to the South African team playing in the Caf Under-23 Championships in Senegal. They opened against the hosts yesterday.
The top three sides reach the Rio Olympic Games, a stage
I know where I must improve — getting behind the ball and marking He’s got all the attributes, and he’s only 18. And for me he’s very mature
where popular No 17 McCarthy made his name early on.
Mahlambi spent just six months with the Wits Under-19 side before being promoted, having been brought in early this year from the School of Excellence. He spent three years at the school after being spotted in trials in his northern KwaZulu-Natal home town of Vryheid in 2011, where he honed his skills playing against men for his father Zachariah’s amateur team Losberg Aces.
Zondo said the youngster stood out from the talent at the School of Excellence.
“He was 14 or 15 when I first saw him. A year after that I spoke to the other coaches that we should move him to a senior PSL team,” Zondo said. “He’s still going to learn. But to be honest, at his age, he’s probably one of the best players.”