Mfundo Thikazi
{{Short description|South African soccer player (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mfundo Thikazi
| image =
| full_name = Mfundo Langa Thikazi
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|6|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = KwaMashu,{{cite web |title=#34 Mfundo Thikazi |url=https://www.royalam.co.za/Home/PlayerDetails?playerId=7ceaa799-6598-494a-885c-da527a7aa1bf |publisher=Royal AM |access-date=5 May 2023}} South Africa
| height = 1.75 m
| currentclub = Royal AM
| clubnumber = 34
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = TTM
| years1 = 2018–2019
| clubs1 = Royal Eagles
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2020–
| clubs2 = Royal AM
| caps2 = 90
| goals2 = 14
| nationalyears1 = 2024–
| nationalteam1 = South Africa
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 4 July 2024
| ntupdate = 4 July 2024
}}
Mfundo Thikazi (born 23 June 1999) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a striker or winger for Premier Soccer League club Royal AM and the South Africa national team.
Career
Thikazi came through the youth academy at Royal Eagles F.C., however had only just broken through to the first team when the club was relegated from the PSL due to breaches in COVID-19 protocols.{{cite web |last1=Gomolemo |first1=Motshwane |title=Royal Eagles fly down to ABC Motsepe League |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/sport/royal-eagles-fly-down-to-abc-motsepe-league-20200822#:~:text=The%20club%20have%20had%20their,State%20Stars%20on%20Saturday%20afternoon. |publisher=City Press |access-date=6 May 2023 |date=22 August 2020}} Thikazi, amongst the rest of the playing squad and coaching staff would face a period of uncertainty around the club as owners Shauwn Mkhize and her husband Sbu Mpisane went through a messy divorce process, leaving Mpisane as the sole owner of the club{{cite web |first1=ROBIN-DUKE |last1=MADLALA |title=SBU DECLARED ROYAL EAGLES’ SOLE OWNER |url=https://www.snl24.com/dailysun/sport/sbu-declared-royal-eagles-sole-owner-20190828-3 |website=snl24.com |publisher=Daily Sun |access-date=6 May 2023 |date=28 August 2019}} which saw players not receive payment, or meals at the club as stated in their contract. This culminated in Thikazi's contract being terminated along with several other players.{{cite web |first1=Ernest |last1=Makhaya |title=Royal Eagles management and players in contract dispute |url=https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/royal-eagles-management-and-players-in-contract-dispute/1xdpntsx2qhn91x5o28kbgc9t9 |publisher=Goal.com |access-date=6 May 2023 |date=24 October 2019}}
Following his release, Thikazi signed for Royal AM F.C., a new start-up club founded by former Royal Eagles owner Shauwn Mkhize, having bought the license off former Premier Soccer League foundation club Bloemfontein Celtic, and relocated the license from Bloemfontein, to Durban, in a manner which was seen as highly controversial.{{cite web |first1=Tonderai |last1=Chiyindiko |title=A hurtful slap in the face for Celtic’s supporters |url=https://www.newframe.com/a-hurtful-slap-in-the-face-for-celtics-supporters/ |website=New Frame |access-date=6 May 2023 |date=30 Aug 2021}} Thikazi emerged as one of the clubs most talented young players during the 2022–23 South African Premier Division season, scoring six goals from the wing throughout the season and being used as an impactful player off the bench.{{cite web |first1=Sinethemba |last1=Sithole |title=Maduka on why he prefers Mfundo Thikazi as second-half substitute |publisher=Far Post|url=https://farpost.co.za/farpost-latest-soccer-news/john-maduka-explains-why-he-prefers-mfundo-thikazi-as-second-half-substitute/ |access-date=6 May 2023 |date=5 May 2023}}
He was called up for South Africa for the 2024 COSAFA Cup, where he made his international debut against Botswana.{{NFT player|95318}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerway|584991}}
{{Royal AM F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thikazi, Mfundo}}
Category:South African men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Soccer players from KwaZulu-Natal
Category:Royal Eagles F.C. players
Category:Royal AM F.C. players
Category:National First Division players
Category:South African Premier Division players