Ex-Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt assessing former Mamelodi Sundowns & Al Ahly star at Durban City - 'I give him the opportunity, he's young'

Phakamani Mahlambi was last involved in competitive football in 2021 while in the books of Chippa United before he tore his Achilles tendon, which hampered his return to action.

He is now trying his luck at Durban City under coach Gavin Hunt as he seeks to return to that silky winger who once turned out for Mamelodi Sundowns and also became the first South African to play for Egyptian giants Al Ahly. 

“I can’t revive him, he’s got to revive himself. I can only give him the platform,” Hunt said as per iDiski Times. 

“He’s like any football player, I give him the platform, I give him the opportunity, and what he does… if they want to train, but he’s young. 

“I mean, he was the brightest talent in South Africa, wasn’t he? And then he had that move to Al Ahly, back to Sundowns, he came to Chippa with me, he suffered an Achilles injury. He’s had more comebacks than George Foreman.”

Hunt is a firm believer in Mahlambi, and he is the one who gave the player his professional debut during the 2025/16 season while the two were at Wits University.

They were then reunited at Chippa United when Mahlambi appeared to have gained weight before he was injured. 

The KwaZulu-Natal-born man also tried his luck at SuperSport under Hunt two seasons ago but could not make the grade.

For a player who has gone for four years without tasting competitive football, it will be interesting to see if the former Al Ahly and Sundowns star will impress the Durban City coach. 

As a free agent, Mahlambi can still sign for a new club even outside the Premier Soccer League transfer window, which closes on September 22.

That gives him more time to work on his fitness and other aspects of his game that could help him return to the competitive level where he was before.