Zitha Macheke

Zitha Kwinika
Zitha Kwinika (Macheke) at the 2021/22 Stellenbosch FC awards gala
Personal information
Full name Alton Zitha Kwinika[1][2]
Date of birth (1994-01-04) 4 January 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Meadowlands, South Africa
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Kaizer Chiefs
Number 4
Youth career
–2014 Kaizer Chiefs
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Kaizer Chiefs 0 (0)
2015–2016 → Chippa United (loan) 13 (0)
2016–2019 Chippa United 53 (0)
2016–2017 → Thanda Royal Zulu (loan) 29 (1)
2019–2020 Bidvest Wits 24 (0)
2020–2022 Stellenbosch 55 (1)
2022– Kaizer Chiefs 37 (1)
International career‡
2015 South Africa U23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:54, 21 October 2020 (UTC)

Alton Zitha Kwinika (born 4 January 1994) is a South African soccer player who plays as a defender for South African Premier Division side Kaizer Chiefs.[3]

Early life

Macheke was born in Meadowlands.[4]

Club career

He started his career at Kaizer Chiefs, and was promoted to their first team in 2014.[5] He joined Chippa United on a season-long loan in summer 2015,[4] before joining the club on a two-year deal after his contract at Chiefs expired in 2016.[6][7] He joined Thanda Royal Zulu on loan for the 2016–17 season.[7][8] He joined Bidvest Wits in July 2019,[9] and made 24 appearances for the club,[2] before signing for Stellenbosch in summer 2020.[10] At the end of the 2021/22 season, he was named as Stellenbosch FC's Footballer of the Year and Players' Player of the Year before completing a return to boyhood club, Kaizer Chiefs.[11]

International career

He has represented South Africa at under-23 level, playing at the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.

Honours

Kaizer Chiefs
  • Cufa Cup:2024
  • Home of Legends Cup:2024[2][5]

References

  1. ^ "2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations - Group A squads" (PDF). cafonline.com. Confederation of African Football. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Zitha Macheke at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  3. ^ https://www.kaizerchiefs.com/news/chiefs-welcome-kwinika-du-preez/
  4. ^ a b Mailwane, Tshepang (24 July 2015). "Macheke relishes Chippa challenge". Daily Dispatch. Retrieved 21 October 2020 – via pressreader.com.
  5. ^ a b Nkanjeni, Vuyokazi (19 January 2019). "Chippa star relishing chance to make an impact". Weekend Post. Retrieved 21 October 2020 – via pressreader.com.
  6. ^ "Chippa United Has Signed Zitha Macheke". Soccer Laduma. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Chippa United confirm the loan of Zitha Macheke to Thanda Royal Zulu". Kick Off. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  8. ^ Nkanjeni, Vuyokazi (26 July 2016). "Macheke, Cele off on loan to Royal Zulu". The Herald. Retrieved 21 October 2020 – via pressreader.com.
  9. ^ Mlotha, Sipho (5 July 2019). "Gavin Hunt confirms Bidvest Wits signing of Zitha Macheke". Kick Off. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  10. ^ Breakfast, Siviwe (18 September 2020). "PSL transfer news: Stellenbosch sign Zitha Macheke from Wits". The South African. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  11. ^ Bekker, Liam (18 May 2022). "Official: Kwinika to return to Chiefs". Kick Off. Retrieved 22 May 2022.