Sport

Goal-hungry Kimberlites prove there’s more to the city than diamonds

Lance Fredericks|Published

The Northern Cape’s Hungry Lions have a gem in attacking midfielder and forward Muzomuhle Khanyi. Picture: safa.net

MENTION that you’re from Kimberley to someone while you are visiting another city, and a lot of the time, in fact most of the time, you will be graced with one of (or both) these responses: “Mense van die Groot Gat” (People from the Big Hole) or “Did you bring any diamonds with you?”

Now though Kimberley is, mostly, famous for its rich diamond history, currently the city and the Northern Cape province are making the headlines for some other remarkable reasons.

Take for instance the Northern Cape’s Hungry Lions football team. This team doing duty in the National First Division – the Motsepe Foundation Championship – has a player on their books that can’t seem to put a foot wrong.

Muzomuhle Mcebiseni Khanyi is currently the League’s top scorer having slotted a whopping 10 goals in 12 matches. Here’s the interesting part, the 25-year-old has made just six starts, so half of his appearances have been from off the bench.

In his last five games he banged in nine goals – two against AmaTuks, two against Casric stars, another brace, this time against Milford, and then a hat-trick against Leruma United. Only the Highbury defence managed to keep Khanyi from scoring.

Certainly the former Platinum City Rovers and Cape Umoya forward is one to watch, and is already rumoured to be on the radar of PSL giants Orlando Pirates as well as Sekhukhune United.

KIMBERLEY STARS SHINE AT COSAFA UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP

But even closer to home, South Africa were handsome winners in Group C of the Cosafa Men’s Under-17 Cup that’s currently under way in Johannesburg.

South Africa overwhelmed Botswana 4-0 and Kimberley's own sensational Emile Witbooi, fresh from his trials at Chelsea, orchestrated the action for Amajita and rightfully found himself among the scorers.

And if you thought Kimberley’s influence ended there, you’d be wrong, because in the girl’s side of the competition, defending champions South Africa opened their 2024 Cosafa Under-17 Girls Championship with a 4-2 win over Malawi at UJ Auckland Park Stadium.

And who else but Leonay Kock was the star of the show for the host nation, scoring a hat-trick on her way to raking in another international Player of the Match award.

The unstoppable Kimberley whizz opened her account after 20 minutes and netted the third and fourth goals for Bantswana, while captain Katleho Malebana converted a first-half penalty for the side.

Yes, there are diamonds, a big hole and the history of the first electrical street lights, but there is much, much more to this city and this province than meets the eye.

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