Kwinika – A right back or centre-back?

The Amakhosi academy graduate has returned. Media reports suggest he cost R3 million due to having just one year left on his contract at Stellies. For many of the Chiefs faithful, they will remember the player as a right back. When he left to join Chippa United, he played most of his matches at fullback and only occasionally in the heart of the backline. When Gavin Hunt signed him for Wits, he was essentially a replacement for Nazeer Allie and was used almost solely on the right flank. Then, when Nyiko Mobbie’s loan spell at Stellenbosch came to an end, they moved for Kwinika as a right back replacement.

However, with the emergence of Dean Van Rooyen in that position at Stellenbosch, the player formerly known as Zitha Macheke moved into the heart of the backline. He captained the team at times and looked settled either in a back four or in a back three, both as a side centre-back and the middle central defender. His form drew attention and has triggered Chiefs to sign him, so you’d imagine he is going to play centrally under Zwane. The coach knows him from the development structures and has only positive things to say thus far: “Obviously when it comes to Kwinika, he worked with us, I think in 2011, before he was promoted to the first team. He was with me in the U17s, then promoted to the U19s and reserves. When it comes to Zitha, he is a boy that I know very well. He’s a boy from ekasi, he’s talented and (has) got leadership skills as well.” It would make sense to have him as the side’s number one central defender, with Njabulo Ngcobo and Siyabonga Ngezana competing to partner him (or all three of them together when a back three is used). Erick Mathoho is less suited to a modern style of play due to his lack of ball-playing ability and the jury is very much still out on Austin Dube. The stats show Kwinika is very good at tackling and strong with his defending on the ground. He is good in the air, but it’s not his main attribute. Stellenbosch often looked to play out from the back and he looked comfortable with those demands. This looks like a very smart signing of a player at his peak.