Head coach Rulani Mokwena admits that it will be a struggle to find an eventual replacement for talismanic Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Themba Zwane who he regards as a generational talent.
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos revealed that his technical team were in the process of identifying potential replacements for the 34-year-old attacker as he was aiming to introduce emerging talents such as Orlando Pirates’ Patrick Maswanganyi to the international stage.
Zwane is in the twilight of his career but remains an integral player for both club and country after starring for Broos’s side at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.
Speaking ahead of his side’s Nedbank Cup Round of 16 clash against Maritzburg United Mokwena lauded the influence of one of South Africa’s football greats.
“You can’t replace one of the greats of South African football,” Mokwena said.
“A person who so happens to be a family member [Jomo Sono] always says to me, ‘Your biggest mistake is that you put Themba Zwane on the bench’.
“Every time Sundowns don’t play well, I get that message, so when you speak of a man who has unearthed some of the greatest players in this country’s history, and who himself was one of the greatest also, Jomo Sono always tells me you can’t replace Themba Zwane, he’s a generational talent.
“He’s [Zwane] also a good person, you saw when we took him off yesterday, he doesn’t whinge. You get that with some players who are at a certain level, but you don’t get that with Themba Zwane who comes running off the pitch.
“That for me is already an indication of how great he is, when you undermine your greatness, Mshishi doesn’t even know how great he is.
“It will be another 10 to 15 years before you find a player who will surpass Mshishi’s level, so I am not even going to try to replace him, because it’s impossible.”
Runaway DStv Premiership leaders Sundowns will be aiming to move a step closer to reclaiming the Nedbank Cup when they host The Team of Choice at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday.
Kick-off is at 18:00.
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has identified Orlando Pirates star player Patrick Maswanganyi as a possible long term replacement for Themba Zwane. At 25, he believes that Maswanganyi has got years ahead of him to shine in the national team.#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/M2ZPxOEGqu
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) March 12, 2024
