Siphiwe Ignatius Mkhonza (2 January 1979 – 5 March 2024) was a South African
soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
player who played as a
centre-back
In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield position whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring.
Centre-backs are usually positioned in pairs, with one full-back on either s ...
. He played club football for
Bloemfontein Celtic
Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club (simply known as Celtic) is a South African amateur football club based in Bloemfontein that competes in the ABC Motsepe League, the third tier of the South African football league system. Bloemfontein Celtic has ...
,
Ria Stars
Ria Stars were a South African football club from Pietersburg
Polokwane (, meaning "Sanctuary" in Northern SothoLamontville Golden Arrows,
Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (often known as Chiefs) are a South African professional football club based in Naturena, Johannesburg South, that plays in the Premier Soccer League. The team is nicknamed ''AmaKhosi'', which means "Lords" or "Chie ...
,
SuperSport United
SuperSport United Football Club (often known as SuperSport) is a South African professional football club based in Atteridgeville in Pretoria in the Gauteng province. The team currently plays in the Dstv Premiership. United is known as ''Matsats ...
,
Maritzburg United
Maritzburg United is a South African football club based in the city of Pietermaritzburg that currently plays in the Premier Soccer League.
Honours
*First Division Coastal Stream champions: 2007–08
*First Division Championship Play-offs: 2 ...
,
AmaZulu
Zulu people (; zu, amaZulu) are a Nguni ethnic group native to Southern Africa. The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group and nation in South Africa, with an estimated 10–12 million people, living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal ...
and
Black Leopards
Black Leopards FC is a South African football club based in Thohoyandou, Vhembe Region, Limpopo that plays in the National First Division.
History
The club was founded in 1983 by business people in the Vhembe Region. In 1998 the club was tak ...
Transvaal Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name Transvaal.
* South African Republic (1856–1902; af, ...
(now
Gauteng
Gauteng ( ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. The name in Sotho-Tswana languages means 'place of gold'.
Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts for only ...
) to his parents Mavis Motsile and
Joseph Mkhonza
Joseph Mkhonzana Mkhonza (born 2 September 1953) is a South African football manager.
He is the father of former South African international football player Siphiwe Mkhonza
Career
Mkhonza was the head coach of the South Africa women's nationa ...
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
. Siphiwe attended Thulisa Primary School and would go on to attend Kenneth Masekela Secondary School.
Mkhonza played for several clubs as a youth starting his playing days at Skheshes Babes, and then going on to play for Tip Top FC, Lusitano FC, Munich FC and Katlehong City. These pivotal days would prove vital as he was able to adapt to many situations in his playing days.
Club career
Bloemfontein Celtic
Mkhonza's began his professional football career at
Bloemfontein Celtic
Bloemfontein Celtic Football Club (simply known as Celtic) is a South African amateur football club based in Bloemfontein that competes in the ABC Motsepe League, the third tier of the South African football league system. Bloemfontein Celtic has ...
in 1999 and stayed there until 2001. He would also captain his team at the age of 18 years old in his first season. In the
1999–2000 Premier Soccer League
The 1999–2000 Premier Soccer League, known as the 1999–2000 Castle Premiership for sponsorship purposes, was the fourth season of the Premier Soccer League since its establishment in 1996. The season began on 30 July 1999 and ended on 4 June 2 ...
season, Mkhonza would lead his team to the biggest home win of the season, beating Mother City 6–0.
Ria Stars
Joining next the Pietersburg based club, Ria Stars, who were promoted in the previous season, Mkhonza would prove that his leadership qualities were acknowledged as he would captain the team in the 2001-2002 campaign and make 30 appearances.
Golden Arrows
After a lacklustre season with new boys, Ria Stars, Mkhonza was keen on proving his value as he moved to Durban-based club, Lamontville Golden Arrows He would spend two seasons here, with him bringing the team from 13th position on the log in the previous season to 5th on the log in his first season with the club, also going on to captain them. Mkhonza played all but one game in his two seasons.
Kaizer Chiefs
In arguably his most successful stint with any club, Mkhonza made the big move to Soweto giants
Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (often known as Chiefs) are a South African professional football club based in Naturena, Johannesburg South, that plays in the Premier Soccer League. The team is nicknamed ''AmaKhosi'', which means "Lords" or "Chie ...
from 2004 to 2007. In his first season he would achieve greatness by winning his first league title in the
2004–05 Premier Soccer League
In the 2004–05 Premier Soccer League seasonnow known as the South African Premier Division, the top tier of association football in South Africacontained 16 teams. The championship was won by Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (ofte ...
campaign. His move to the Glamour Boys would see Mkhonza receive his first South Africa national team call up and game.
Maritzburg United
Mkhonza moved to a struggling
Maritzburg United
Maritzburg United is a South African football club based in the city of Pietermaritzburg that currently plays in the Premier Soccer League.
Honours
*First Division Coastal Stream champions: 2007–08
*First Division Championship Play-offs: 2 ...
with the intention of reviving the club. He also captained the Team of Choice and saved them from relegation. Mkhonza would only stay for one season at the Pietermaritzburg outfit before moving on.
AmaZulu
Choosing to stay in KwaZulu-Natal, Mkhonza then had a fruitful stint at
AmaZulu
Zulu people (; zu, amaZulu) are a Nguni ethnic group native to Southern Africa. The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group and nation in South Africa, with an estimated 10–12 million people, living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal ...
. While playing in a more senior role for the Durban-based outfit, he would help them to a Nedbank Cup final (losing 3–0 to
Bidvest Wits
Bidvest Wits Football Club,
(simply often known as Wits University F.C. or Wits) was a South African professional football club from Johannesburg which played in the Premier Soccer League the first-tier of South African league football system. ...
) and get the club into the top 8 for the first time.
Death
Mkhonza died on 5 March 2024, at the age of 45 from kidney infection.