Meet Cape Town City FC's new skipper
CAPE TOWN CITY’S impressive Bafana Bafana right-back Thami Mkhize comes off yet another top-class season. Supremely consistent, he is always one of the Cape club’s most reliable performers.
It’s no secret that City coach Benni McCarthy is a huge fan of the right-back. A few months after his arrival as coach, he spoke glowingly about Mkhize and the possibility that the player should be considered by Bafana. It wasn’t long in coming – Mkhize’s performances bashed the national team door down and he made his Bafana debut in October last year in a 3-1 victory over Burkina Faso at the FNB Stadium. No doubt, going forward, he remains uppermost in the plans of Bafana coach Stuart Baxter.
City will, of course, shed a few tears when influential captain and central defender Robyn Johannes joins Bidvest Wits next season, but it’s just as important to remember the Cape club is fully prepared for his departure. While Johannes’ position in central defence will be filled by the promising 24-year-old Kwanda Mngonyama, the captain’s armband will snugly fit around the upper arm of Mkhize.
With Johannes already packing his bags for his imminent move to Gauteng – he is suspended and won’t play in City’s final game of the season against AmaZulu in Durban on Saturday – the 29-year-old Mkhize will skipper the team.
Now, as City look to finish the season off on a high against AmaZulu, the outstanding right-back is clear about what he expects from the team on Saturday.
“As we will be playing the last game of the season in Durban, it is important that we do well to maintain our fifth position on the log,” said Mkhize. “Obviously, Amazulu will be playing with the aim of finishing off their season in the Top 8, so the game will be important for both teams. But, for us, it is important to close off the season on a high note by securing the points; it will not only keep us where we are on the log, but a victory will also place us in high spirits. At the same time, in winning our last game, it will also act as motivation for when we come back next season.”
Mkhize has made tremendous strides over the last two seasons. Originally from Cato Ridge, a town about 30km south-east of Maritzburg, he is from the Kwaximba community. After stints with lower tier teams like Brains United and Nathi Lions, he got his first professional contract at Golden Arrows. He went on to play for Maritzburg United and there was then a possibility that he would join Orlando Pirates. When that didn’t work out, he was persuaded to come to the Mother City to link up with new club City two years ago – and his career has been on an upward trajectory ever since.
Mkhize was honest in his assessment of what was good – and what was not so good.
“We have had ups and downs during the season, but there are positive things that we can learn from,” he said. “For instance, we made it to the MTN8 final at the beginning of the season – and, even though we didn’t win that game, I’m sure the experience we gained was important. You have to consider that this season we used some players who have never played in the professional league before and also the fact that we lost key players who made the team stand out… and yet we still did well.
“On the other hand, the big problem was that we didn’t take advantage of our chances to score goals and, surely, as a club, that is something we should work on We have seen our mistakes and we have realised what has prevented us from reaching our target. Now we need to work on ways to rectify these mistakes. We have to start the new season with a clean slate and maintain all the goals we will set for the team.”
Mkhize is confident that City will continue to make great progress as a club.
“As a team, we always want to win everything,” he said. “We have finished in the Top 8 again this season – and next season we have to keep working on achieving the goal of challenging for the league and perhaps even winning it.”