Pitso Hails Defensive Duo As Bafana Material
Durban City coach Pitso Dladla has lauded his center-back pairing of Sphamandla Ncanana and Mfanafuthi Mkhize, claiming they are among the best defenders in the country and on par with those currently representing Bafana Bafana.
Ncanana showcased his defensive prowess on Tuesday, earning the Man of the Match award despite City’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in their Betway Premiership clash at Chatsworth Stadium.
City were forced to face the defending champions without Mkhize, who sidelined by a rib injury sustained during their weekend victory over Casric Stars—a win that secured their place in the Nedbank Cup final.
Mkhize, a left-sided center-back, provides a natural balance to the backline when paired with the right-footed Ncanana. This partnership has been instrumental in the team’s historic run to the Ke Yona Cup final and their impressive league form.
Despite the loss to Sundowns, Durban City remains sixth in the Betway Premiership standings with 35 points after 23 matches, keeping them firmly on track for a top-eight finish.
Against Sundowns, Dladla was forced to reshuffle his defense. With Terrence Mashego ineligible to face his parent club due to loan restrictions, Emmanuel Jalal stepped in at left-back.
Fezile Gcaba, typically a right-back, also had to adapt, while Liam De Kock partnered Ncanana in the heart of the defense.
“Mfanafuthi Mkhize is a quality player—one of the best center-backs in the country alongside Ncanana,” Dladla said.
“I truly believe they are as good as those in the national team. We are waiting for a full medical report on Wednesday, but I don’t think he will be out for long.”
Dladla emphasized the depth of his squad, praising the versatility of his players: “Our team has immense quality. You look at Fezile Gcaba; he stepped in [at left-back], and it’s all about basics and understanding your area of operation. Liam De Kock also performed well. As a technical team, we have to trust every player in the squad.”
This defeat marked Durban City’s first loss at Chatsworth Stadium in all competitions this season, against a Sundowns side that arrived on a nine-match winning streak in the league.
One could argue that the result may ease the pressure on the newly promoted side, allowing them to play with more freedom in the final stretch of the season.
“We wanted to make Chatsworth a hunting ground—a place where we don’t lose games,” Dladla added.
“A defeat is a defeat. But against a team like Mamelodi Sundowns, if you are not careful, you can suffer a heavy loss. We showed that we are a team to be reckoned with—a quality side.
“We will regroup because we still believe we can do better at home. We still have matches to play here, and we promise our supporters that we will continue to perform well on our home ground.”
