Bidvest Wits wonder kid is Player of the Month
JOBURG - Bidvest Wits wonder kid, Phakamani Mahlambi, who has been a sensational revelation at the Clever Boys this season, has been named Absa Premiership Player of the Month for November and December.
UPhakamani sekaphakamile, (Phakamani has raised the bar) was how coach Pitso Mosimane of Mamelodi Sundowns described the amazing achievement of the 18-year-old.
Mosimane was named Coach of the Month for the same period after he guided Sundowns to a 10-game unbeaten streak in both league and cup competitions.
A humble Mahlambi said he could not believe it when the news was broken to him. “My heartfelt gratitude to my coach, teammates and, most importantly, my parents who have been my pillar of strength since I started playing football for my father’s club at age seven,” he said.
He thanked coach Gavin Hunt for believing in him, and his teammates for his success, calling it the result of teamwork more than an individual.
Mosimane, whose big spending team missed signing the teenage sensation described him as ‘a wonder kid’ and said his football future was bright if he could manage to keep his calm in the midst of the overwhelming limelight.
“I would advise him to focus on his game and avoid life’s temptations… and he knows what I am talking about. We’re all human and make mistakes but those mistakes should be treated as learning curves and we move on,” said Mosimane.
Incidentally, Mosimane, who is popularly known in football circles as ‘Jingles’, also made his debut in professional football at the age of 18 at Jomo Cosmos.
Mahlambi also played an instrumental role in guiding the South African U23 team’s qualification for the Rio Olympics later this year.
