The first leg semi-final takes place at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with Lakay, who last month left the Citizens for Sundowns, set to line-up against his former teammates.
Deployed in a wide-left role for Masandawana, Lakay is in line to go toe-to-toe with the new City skipper, who despite being happy for the versatile winger, insists their friendship will be put on ice this weekend.
“I am really happy for him, playing for such a big team in Africa, because as players we all want to be competing against the best,” Mkhize said. “Funny enough, I’ve already told him that as much as we are friends, for the 90 minutes on the field this weekend, we won’t be friends. I’m hoping he’ll play though.”
Mkhize is wary of this weekend’s opponents however, as is determined to keep a clean sheet in the first-leg semi-final tie.
“They’re a tough team with quality everywhere, so it will be important for us to bring our A-game and I’m hopeful that since we’re playing at home, we might be able to get one or two goals,” he said. “As defenders, the most important thing for us is that we don’t concede.”
Having lost last year’s MTN8 final to SuperSport United on penalties, Mkhize admits he’s eager to go one better this year to add a second trophy to the City cabinet.
“Last year’s defeat to SuperSport was a lesson learnt to most of us who played,” he said. “We obviously all want to win cups, so this is another opportunity for us to go all the way. I’m just hoping we can win against Sundowns and then anything can happen in the final. I tasted victory when we won the Telkom Knockout [two years ago], so I really want to win.”
Kick-off at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday is set for 3pm.