Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Daylon Claasen has shared what makes Mamelodi Sundowns stars Themba Zwane and Teboho Mokoena special players.
The injured Zwane and Mokoena are not just crucial players for Sundowns but are also the engines behind the recent successes of the South African national team under coach Hugo Broos.
At 35, Zwane continues with his age-defying performances whenever he takes to the field, and together with Mokoena they played a significant role in helping Bafana win bronze medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast early this year.
Speaking to the Soccerbeat podcast, Claasen said these are the two local players he rates highly at the moment.
“Themba Zwane is a really good player. I think the reason I like Themba, even Mokoena I also like him,” Claasen said.
“And I know everyone likes to hype, but I feel the reason I like them is because they are team players.
“They don’t play as individuals, they play for the team which also makes them look good and ultimately get the praise they deserve,” the former Ajax Amsterdam player said.
Claasen, currently in the books of the Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit Cape Town Spurs, also explained why he ranks Mokoena ahead of everyone.
“For me, in South Africa the player I currently rate so high is Mokoena, I think he is doing an amazing job in the position he is. He contributes when the team is defending and attacking,” Claasen said.
“Zwane is amongst them, but Mokoena I think he is amazing right now. I’m a Mokoena fan. He is a team player and I’m all about the team. I don’t like individual players.
“You can be good individually, but I like team players.”
Sundowns are heading to Morocco this weekend for a Caf Champions League duty against AS FAR on Saturday at 21:00, South African time.
The 2016 African champions will be eager to register their first win after they kicked off the group stages journey with a draw against AS Maniema Union in Pretoria.
AS FAR occupy the top spot in Group B after a win over their countrymen, Raja Casablanca.
