Casric Stars’ new signing Vicky Mkhawane with his former youth coach and mentor, Peace Khosa, who played a key role in his football development at Nkowankowa Barcelona.
By; Refilwe Sebola
NKOWANKOWA – Casric Stars have bolstered their squad with the signing of highly-rated Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Vicky Mkhawane on loan as the Motsepe Foundation Championship side prepares for another assault on promotion to the Betway Premiership.
The 20-year-old box-to-box midfielder from Dan Village, near Nkowankowa Township, joins Casric after playing a key role in Kruger United’s successful promotion-winning campaign last season. Mkhawane’s rise has been nothing short of impressive.
The talented midfielder was spotted by renowned youth developer Peace Khosa, who recruited him into Nkowankowa Barcelona at the age of 15. His consistent displays quickly caught the attention of Kaizer Chiefs, who signed him at 17.
Chiefs loaned the youngster to Kruger United last season, where he gained valuable first-team experience and helped the Limpopo club secure historic promotion to the Betway Premiership.
With Kruger United now in the top flight, Chiefs have opted to send the promising midfielder to Casric Stars, where he is expected to play a leading role in the club’s promotion ambitions.
Casric will be aiming to go one better after narrowly missing out on promotion last season.
The Mpumalanga outfit looked like genuine title contenders for much of the campaign before their challenge faded during the closing stages of the league. However, they captured national attention with a remarkable Nedbank Cup run, eliminating Premier Division giants Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu to reach the semi-finals before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Durban City.
The arrival of Mkhawane is expected to inject energy and quality into Casric’s midfield as the club looks to turn its promotion dream into reality.
Peace Khosa believes his former player is ready for the next chapter.
“Vicky has always had the mentality to succeed. He is disciplined, hardworking and eager to improve. We are proud to see another Nkowankowa Barcelona player making his mark in professional football,” Khosa told this publication.
Still only 20, Mkhawane now has another opportunity to showcase his talent in one of the country’s toughest leagues, with the ultimate goal of establishing himself in the Betway Premiership and earning a place in Kaizer Chiefs’ senior team.
For the people of Dan Village and the greater Nkowankowa area, Mkhawane’s journey is another reminder that local talent can rise from community football to the professional game through hard work, patience and the right development pathway.