U-20s leave for Afcon minus Mahlambi‚ but hopeful Wits striker can still arrive late
The South African Under-20 team departed Johannesburg for Ndola on Friday minus Bidvest Wits’ on-form striker striker Phakamani Mahlambi for the 2017 Caf U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Zambia.
Coach Thabo Senong‚ though‚ said the U-20s’ team management were still engaging Wits on the possibility of the 19-year-old forward prodigy‚ in scoring form for Wits since a return from injury in late December‚ to join the national team before their first game.
Absa Premiership leaders Wits view Mahlambi as crucial to their title ambitions this season.
The Clever Boys have one of their biggest league matches of the season against fellow contenders Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Senong said‚ while his 21-man squad departed OR Tambo International Airport a man short with 20 players on Friday‚ he remains hopeful Mahlambi can join the South Africans ahead of their opening Afcon match against Cameroon in Ndola on Monday evening.
Five-star Wits thump hapless Baroka to go top Bidvest Wits' remorseless 5-0 win over Baroka FC made sure they will go into Saturday's clash against Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the Premier Soccer League log.
“Look‚ such a great player doing well for his club‚ as a technical team we submitted our squad and yes‚ I believe we have done well by including all our quality players in the team‚” the SA u-20 coach said.
“And the management is currently dealing with the issue of getting Phakamani‚ maybe before our first game.
“We’re hoping for that as a technical team. But as we are travelling now‚ we do so with 20 boys who we fully trust. Twenty boys who can do the job against Cameroon.
“But if Phakamani can still join us he will certainly be welcome.”
Hunt dodges question on Wits refusal to release Mahlambi for SA U20s junior Afcon Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt may have been chuffed with his side's 5-0 evisceration of Ajax Cape Town but would not be drawn into the Phakamani Mahlambi's saga.
Mahlambi has been the subject of a familiar tug-of-war between Wits‚ reluctant to release their star striker while chasing the PSL title‚ and the SA Football Association.
AMAJITA HEAD Coach speaking to media ahead of the departure to Zambia for the CAF u20 AFCON @madamenamhla@BurgerKi… https://t.co/9rMwkT738M
— SAFA.net (@SAFA_net) February 24, 2017
Safa CEO Dennis Mumble on Tuesday said the association would institute tough action against Wits should the club not release the player to the U-20s‚ even if the Afcon does not fall on official Fifa international dates.
Senong said to his knowledge no arrangement had been reached for Mahlambi to remain behind for Wits’ game against Sundowns.
“I’m not sure about any other game or arrangement‚ but what I know is our management are engaging with his club just to see if we can get him before we kick off our games‚” he said.
The top four teams at the U-20 Afcon qualify for the 2017 Fifa U-20 World Cup in South Korea in May and June.
- TMG Digital/TMG Sport