Mkhize embodies the spirit of Cape Town City

18 March 2018 - 00:00 By MARC STRYDOM

Thamsanqa Mkhize's career trajectory has mirrored the success story that has been Cape Town City. The right-back has had a breakthrough season for the less than two-year-old club who dumped Orlando Pirates out of the Nedbank Cup at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Citizens were drawn to play Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarterfinals. Even if City lose against Downs, and only make the top eight in the league - currently they are sixth - it will have been a second successful season for the brainchild of John Comitis, the chairman who made his return to football with a lot to prove after his Ajax Cape Town ousting.
Giving a chance to a legend, but also a rookie coach - Benni McCarthy has admitted his appointment was a huge risk - represents a success on its own. Given McCarthy's learning curve, a league top eight and cup final (the MTN8) would be a pass mark on the success chart.
One of SA's best right-backs
And the way City have been playing, increasingly less smash-and-grab under McCarthy, and more clear game plan, it seems a safe bet they will do more.
For Mkhize, a seamless international debut in Bafana Bafana's 3-1 World Cup qualifying win against Burkina Faso in October intensified the spotlight on a player earning a reputation as one of SA's best right-backs. "When I left Maritzburg United (in September 2016) all I had on my mind was that I wanted to win something," Mkhize said.
City, last season's Telkom Knockout champions and PSL third-placed finishers, have threatened to win a trophy in just about every tournament they have entered.
They cannot pay what the big teams do, and will lose stars as a result. Their business model is for players to use the club as a stepping stone, with challenging for trophies the means to that end.
And their young coach, Bafana Bafana's all-time top scorer, has an immediate advantage from the starting point of being an SA football legend.
"It's an inspiration," Mkhize said. "He played in Europe all those years. He won the Uefa Champions League. Every day in training, every player wants to learn something from coach Benni."
Nedbank Cup quarterfinal drawMaritzburg United v Bloemfontein Celtic, Ubuntu Cape Town v Free State Stars, Cape Town City v Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs v Baroka FC..

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