DURBAN - The Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban doesn’t hold happy memories for Cape Town City's trio from KwaZulu-Natal - Thamsanqa Mkhize, Thabo Nodada and Kwanda Mngonyama.
On Saturday, the trio will return to the venue which has given them nightmares. City will face SuperSport United at 7pm in the final of the MTN8. They will be hoping for a change of fortunes in a repeat of last season's MTN8 final.
The captain, Mkhize (30), is from Cato Ridge while Mngonyama (24) is from Dwebu in Ixopo and Nodada (23) comes from Port Shepstone. Mkhize will be hoping to land his first silverware as captain.
There’s no better motivation than being at home, but Mkhize knows what happened last season. City succumbed to SuperSport United on penalties, and it was bitter moment to swallow. Mkhize is searching for a second triumph in his career. In 2016, he lifted the Telkom Knockout at the expense of SuperSport.
Mkhize will be hoping for a better homecoming this time around in Durban. Thabo Nodada was also a part of the side which suffered the disappointment of losing the MTN8 at Moses Mabhida. Nodada will be key in the middle of the park, and will be tasked with the duties of keeping the likes of Teboho Mokoena and Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyane quiet.
Nodada shone the last time City were in KZN. He produced a man of the match performance against Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg in the quarterfinals of the competition. He will be hoping to replicate that performance and help City inflict revenge on Matsatsantsa A Pitori.
Mngonyama is another City player who will be playing in front of his family and friends. He joined City at the start of the season,and is still searching for his maiden triumph in top flight football. It will be fitting for him to get it on his home province.
To the young footballers of Strand CT, thank you so much for giving me an opportunity to share my story.
I hope I’ve inspired the next big thing❤️ pic.twitter.com/nTpsYXFWVD
— Thabo Nodada (@ThaboNodada26) September 24, 2018
In 2014, he came close to his first winner's medal when he was still at Bidvest Wits. The Clever Boys succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final ... at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Mngonyama will be hoping for a change of fortunes this time around, but Matsatsantsa will have a huge say in that.
SuperSport put on a scoring show when they beat Black Leopards 4-0 over the past weekend, while City enter the game after defeat to Sundowns and Chiefs, and a draw against Pirates.
That feeling when you know you're going to another Cup final! 🏆 #iamCityFC pic.twitter.com/5Rd2VyVaIh
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) September 24, 2018