Born in deep rural of KwaZulu-Natal, in a small village called eNgoje, Vryheid, Phakamani Lungisani Mahlambi became a household name in South African football, known for his skills, speed, quietness and an appetite for goals contributions.
From an early age, Phakamani was born a winner. He won his first challenge of leaving home at an early age, something which is difficult for any child to do. Leaving his family eNgoje to fulfilling his childhood dream of playing football in Gauteng was not easy. See, no one decides or chooses to be born in poverty, but it suddenly becomes our choice to stay in poverty.
Phakamani, like every boy, was chosen for football by God to change his family situation. Ngoje is a poverty striken village in the northern parts of KZN. Hegemonic forces dominate society. There are more chances of going to prison than being scouted for football, because there’s limited resources, poor infrastructure, insufficient schooling resources, and lack of entertainment. A boy from eNgoje like Phakamani will have to travel to Newcastle, Durban or Maritzburg for trials with a hope of being scouted, because there’s little or no opportunities in the northern region of KZN.
It took a generous man in his community who paid for his travels in 2011 to School of Excellence in Gauteng. When he heard the entire village raving about the young Phakamani, and what he does on the field, it immediately became a community responsibility to help Phakamani succeed. His success was not going to be only for himself, but for his entire community and most importantly, his family.
There was nothing to fear about his discipline and behavior, because he was raised well. His talent was enough to convince locals that Phakamani was destined for greatness. Phakamani impressed his School of Excellence coaches whom he still go back to for advise, and for a shoulder to cry on. His pace, quietness and skill made him look set apart. He was then snatched from School of Excellence by now defunct Bidvest Wits. He played for the juniors until the then head coach Gavin Hunt gave him a chance to play in the Premiership for the first team. Hunt couldn’t ignore such a talent. Phakamani forced himself into the team which was full of experienced players like captain Thulani Hlatshwayo.
Phakamani became a great discovery as he began to attract scouts from domestic and from all over the world. It was evidence when he went for trials in Portugal that indeed he was getting much deserved positive attention. There was hope that he’d become a superstar in Europe because his profile suited the European game. His pace, ability to take on players in tight spaces and his dribbling were second to none. A village boy looked set to be star and an icon through football and far away from a troubled life.
Injuries began to haunt him. He was ruled out of the 2015/16 season when he suffered ACL injury in February 2016, during Bidvest Wits’ 2-1 victory over Maritzburg United. It was a huge blow for him. At the time of his injury, Phakamani was only 19, and doctors had suggested the only way to fix his ACL was going to have to take 26cm of his hamstring and it was highly likely that it was going to affect his major weapon, his speed. His eldest brother, Mthobisi, came to Phakamani’s rescue and donated his own hamstring. Unheard of gesture, but it was evident that Phakamani succeeding is not about him alone- it’s about the family and the community at large. He is a symbol of hope for boys from Ngoje, Hlobane, Dumbe, Mondlo, Nquthu, Coronation.
In that frustrating period, the young Phakamani had to deal with a lot of challenges and stress. Expectations from the same community were too high and heavy on his young shoulders. When he returned to the Wits side, a lot was missing in his game. Those lonely moments when he was injured, were not dealt with properly it seems. The passion, quietness, and skill was slowly disappearing in his game. It was at that moment that convinced his coaches at Bidvest Wits to sell him to a new environment, at arguable the best club in Africa, Al Ahly, the African club of the century.
The spell in Egypt proved to be a frustrating one for the boy. The language, culture, the mommies and the pyramids proved to be a case of too lonely and too far. Language barrier, cultural shock, went straight to his confidence and took its toll. South African journalist and author Hosea Ramphekwa writes about the gifted athletes who are haunted by disruptive demons in his book “Gifted, Hunted, Haunted.” The book seemed to describe exactly Phakamani’s case. Gifted footballer, hunted by evil, haunted by background.
There’s no doubt that the player Phakamani Mahlambi is gifted, yet hunted by the demons which hunt almost all gifted footballers from previously disadvantaged and impoverished backgrounds. Kicked out at Bafana camp for allegedly reporting to camp drunk. Kicked out in Rustenberg camp by Sundowns because, again, he reported drunk, shows that his issues are no longer a case being young and naive. They’re deliberate, out of frustration, not cared for, and badly managed. When a player deals with his personal issues, one wonders if clubs and agents have enough capacity to support him and providing psychological assistance.
Always criticized in social media spaces, family’s hope, community’s role model. Perhaps, it all came at once and too soon for Phakamani.
How then does the football community come together to restore life, love for the game, value for money, on such a talented kid? How then, can a player of his talents rediscover his purpose and first love for football? Every step of change begins with an individual. First, admit there’s a problem. Secondly, seek help. Then, take it one day at a time.
Loaned out to AmaZulu, a side which doesn’t have much travelling and matches like Sundowns, was thought to be an opportunity for Phaka to revive his career, but he has not made his presence felt under coach Benedict McCarthy. Was AmaZulu his choice of destination? Is Durban the right city for him to fight whatever demons he’s dealing with?
A rude awakening:
Players who have had similar struggles as him were either blacklisted or forced to retire. Big names came and went, but no one has ever been permanent in football. No doubt about his talent, but it is the off the field where the issue is.
Please hear him out.
We may be all he’s got.
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