Zitha Macheke Explained

Zitha Kwinika
Fullname:Alton Zitha Kwinika[1]
Birth Date:4 January 1994
Birth Place:Meadowlands, South Africa
Height:1.79 m
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Kaizer Chiefs
Clubnumber:4
Youthyears1:–2014
Youthclubs1:Kaizer Chiefs
Years1:2014–2016
Clubs1:Kaizer Chiefs
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2015–2016
Clubs2:Chippa United (loan)
Caps2:13
Goals2:0
Years3:2016–2019
Clubs3:Chippa United
Caps3:53
Goals3:0
Years4:2016–2017
Clubs4:Thanda Royal Zulu (loan)
Caps4:29
Goals4:1
Years5:2019–2020
Clubs5:Bidvest Wits
Caps5:24
Goals5:0
Years6:2020–2022
Clubs6:Stellenbosch
Caps6:55
Goals6:1
Years7:2022–
Clubs7:Kaizer Chiefs
Caps7:37
Goals7:1
Nationalyears1:2015
Nationalteam1:South Africa U23
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:30 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update: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.[2]

Early life

Macheke was born in Meadowlands.[3]

Club career

He started his career at Kaizer Chiefs, and was promoted to their first team in 2014.[4] He joined Chippa United on a season-long loan in summer 2015, before joining the club on a two-year deal after his contract at Chiefs expired in 2016.[5] [6] He joined Thanda Royal Zulu on loan for the 2016–17 season.[7] He joined Bidvest Wits in July 2019,[8] and made 24 appearances for the club, before signing for Stellenbosch in summer 2020.[9] 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.[10]

International career

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

Notes and References

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