Durban City head coach Gavin Hunt has confirmed that the former Mamelodi Sundowns winger Phakamani Mahlambi is currently being assessed by the club.
Hunt and Mahlambi’s relationship goes back to their days of Bidvest Wits, where Hunt handed Mahlambi his professional debut.
He took that opportunity with both hands, mesmerising defenders before earning a move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly SC.
However, things didn’t quite turn out as planned and Mahlambi returned to South Africa, joining Sundowns where he couldn’t live up to expectations. Hunt then lured him to Chippa United where things went from bad to worse, as he suffered an injury which kept him out for a long time.
Hunt now confirmed he’s keen to give the player another opportunity, but insisted it’s up to the 27-year-old to make the most out of the new lifeline.
“I can’t revive him, he’s got to revive himself. I can only give him the platform,” Hunt said after his side’s 1-0 win over Chippa United.
“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.”
Durban City currently sit at the top of the Betway Premiership after starting 2025/26 with back-to-back wins. They next face Golden Arrows in a KwaZulu-Natal derby on 19 August.
