Official: Sundowns, Mahlambi part ways

The agent of attacker Phakamani Mahlambi has confirmed the player will be leaving Mamelodi Sundowns permanently, four years since joining them from Egyptian giants Al Ahly in a lucrative deal.

Speaking to SABC Sport, the player™s long-time representative Glyn Binkin said the Brazilians had opted against keeping the talented, but troubled, player.

"It™s true. Sundowns have decided not to exercise the option so the player is free [to join any club]," the veteran agent said.

Mahlambi will now look for a fresh start.

The early days of his Sundowns career were promising under then-coach Pitso Mosimane, who was determined to help the now 24-year-old return abroad as that had always been his ambitions following a spell with Ahly.

He™d been signed for a reported fee of around R13-million. But it™s no secret that Mahlambi has had personal problems and issues off the pitch, which both his agency and parent club have tried to address in the past.

Downs loaned him out to AmaZulu in 2020, hoping then-coach Benni McCarthy - a player he was compared to by Gavin Hunt seeing that he launched both their careers when they were teenagers at Seven Stars (1997) and Bidvest Wits (2015) respectively.

But ˜Phaka™ hardly played, though he did get another lifeline at Chippa United almost a year ago when he rejoined Hunt in Gqeberha.

SABC Sport sources indicated that the Brazilians were hoping the speedy player could revive his career at Chippa, but that didn™t prove the case, especially when the coach was sacked halfway through the season and Mahlambi got injured.

Pressed for comment on what the future now holds, Binkin said an update will be provided once Mahlambi's suitors have been identified.

œWe are working on a few options at the moment, but it™s still early to discuss them openly, the agent told the public broadcaster™s sports desk.

By Mazola Molefe