Grief stalls Phakamani Mahlambi’s comeback at TS Galaxy

The long-awaited redemption arc for Phakamani Mahlambi has hit a sombre roadblock. TS Galaxy head coach Adnan Beganovic has confirmed that the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly attacker has stepped away from training following a death in the family.

Mahlambi, now 28, has been undergoing a trial with the Rockets in a bid to rescue a career that has been largely dormant since 2021. The narrative of his return is further fueled by the presence of his younger brother, Seluleko Mahlambi, who has become a key figure for the Mpumalanga outfit this season.

“It’s on Him”: The Coach’s Ultimatum To Phakamani Mahlambi

Speaking after Galaxy’s narrow 3-2 defeat to AmaZulu FC in Durban, Beganovic offered a candid assessment of the player’s situation. While sympathetic to the personal tragedy, the coach was blunt about the physical mountain Mahlambi still has to climb.

“He trained with us, but in the last couple of days, he had a member of his family pass away… then he was at a funeral,” Beganovic explained. “But it’s not on me, it’s on him. He needs to do everything he needs to fix his body to be a professional soccer player.”

The coach emphasised that reclaiming the “wonderkid” form that once made Mahlambi South Africa’s most expensive export to Egypt is a gruelling process.

The Physical Toll: Beganovic noted that years of inactivity and off-field struggles have led to a “disconnection” with the physical demands of elite football.

The Mental Struggle: “You need to suffer a lot,” the coach warned. “When you crash your body, it’s not easy to come back to the level you were at five or ten years ago.”

A Second Chance with an Expiry Date

While TS Galaxy chairman Tim Sukazi is known for offering lifelines to troubled talents, the club’s patience appears to be wearing thin as the Betway Premiership season intensifies.

Beganovic hinted that the “Rockets” cannot afford to keep a squad place open indefinitely for a player who may not reach match fitness.

“Sometimes at the professional level, we don’t have time to wait too long,” the coach admitted. “If we decide he can’t help us, we need to replace him. Why lose that one place? We can take young players who can help us because it’s a long season.”

For Mahlambi, the window of opportunity is narrowing. Once he returns from his period of mourning, the 28-year-old will likely face a final “make-or-break” period to prove his body can still handle the rigours of the top flight.