Coaches and journalists pay tribute to late Siphiwe Mkhonza

Khanyeza, paying tribute to Mkhonza – who passed away yesterday morning after struggling with a kidney infection, says he informed his players before their game against Kaizer Chiefs last night about the role Mkhonza played as an Abafana Besthende prominent defender.

"To hear the sad news of Siphiwe – one of the guys that I played with at Arrows in my first season, he was one of the senior players that welcomed us, and I felt so bad earlier on when I heard [the news]," said Khenyeza.

"I knew he was ill, but at the end of the day, even the group [didn't expect it] – because I told the players earlier on, some of them know that he was here and played for Arrows before.

"May his soul rest in peace, and condolences to his family. It was very shocking when we heard the news of one of the guys from home."

Mkhonza, who passed away at the age of 44, followed in the footsteps of his father Joseph “Skheshekheshe” Mkhonza by playing for Kaizer Chiefs – where he lifted the 2004/05 league title under Ted Dumitru. 

Chiefs’ acting head coach Cavin Johnson also paid tribute to Skizo.

"On behalf of the football fraternity, Kaizer Chiefs and the chairman [Kaizer Motaung Sr] himself, we'd like to send our condolences to the Mkhonza family," said Johnson.

"May his soul rest in peace and may it rise in glory one day when I'm in heaven."

TimesLive senior sports reporter and veteran journalist Mahlatse Mphahlele says Mkhonza played for Chiefs when the team was still loaded with quality.

"Shocking news that came out this morning that 'Skizo' is no more. I was not aware that he had not been well, obviously seeing him from a distance and stuff like that," noted Mphahlele.

"I remember a skinny, tall defender who was sort-of clean in tackles and, during those days when he was young, internationally we had guys like Alessandro Nesta – you could see that maybe he was trying to model his game around that type of defender.

"That's when the modern kind of player was starting to come through, and he was a decent footballer who definitely made his mark.

"During his days, to play for Chiefs was not easy because Chiefs had stars all over the place. He made his mark, and he represented his clubs with distinction."

READ: Mabhuti Khenyeza shoulders responsibility for Golden Arrows slump