Bidvest Wits starlet Phakamani Mahlambi says he is keen to make more of a meaningful impact ahead of the 2017-18 Absa Premiership campaign.

Despite returning from a knee injury late in the 2016-17 season, Mahlambi picked up the PSL Young Player of the Year award, netting six goals as his side ended their 96-year wait for a league title.

The 19-year-old, who recently underwent a two-week trial in Europe, revealed his delight at being named the most talented youngster in the PSL, in addition to welcoming the arrivals of experienced campaigners Daylon Claasen and Steven Pienaar.

‘It was an honour to receive the award. Credit must go to my teammates and especially the coach [Gavin Hunt] for believing in me after my injury,’ he told KickOff.

‘All I can say, is that I want to learn and improve from last season. Even though I played a few games, I managed to score six goals and – it’s not six assists, it’s nine – I want to do more.

‘I’d like to contribute more to the team and do more for our supporters.

‘Obviously, those guys [Pienaar and Claasen] have been playing at the top level even before I knew I would be a professional one day, so them coming to Wits will be a great experience for me.

‘I look forward to learning some new things, and maybe in the near future I can go overseas and I will know how to handle situations when I come across them,’ he concluded.

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