Bafana Bafana playmaker Themba Zwane against Panama at the Moses Mabidha Stadium last Friday in Durban.
Image: BackpagePix
Every manager reserves the right to have one veto player selection. For Hugo Broos, it's Themba Zwane.
The coach and veteran playmaker have endured a rollercoaster relationship since the Belgian tactician was placed at the helm of the national team in May 2021.
Initially, Zwane — despite being the architect of perennial Betway Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns’ success — Broos deemed him surplus to requirements due to his advanced age and favoured younger players such as Jesse Donn and Ethan Brooks early on in his tenure. But Broos soon saw the error of his ways by recalling the gifted Zwane with the 36-year-old having now earned more than half of his 52 Bafana Bafana caps under Broos.
They could, however, have been much more were it not for Zwane’s habitual injury problems that has kept him on the sidelines for both Bafana and Sundowns at various times.
But such is Zwane’s quality and game intelligence that he brings to the Bafana midfield that Broos has gambled on recalling the midfielder, who is on the comeback trail after rupturing his Achilles tendon in 2024 before a knee injury derailed his comeback in August 2025.
Broos has even played open cards and stated that Zwane will head to Mexico for the Fifa World Cup later this year if he manages to get through Tuesday’s friendly against Panama at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town unscathed.
“We will see him next Tuesday, and he’ll recuperate. And if he recuperates, he will play again, because he needs that,” Broos said. “If Themba stays like he is now, fit, no injuries, then even when he’s not ready for 90 minutes, he will be with us at the World Cup.”
Broos’ loyalty to Zwane stems from the magical moments he provides when he is indeed on the park — like was for 60 minutes in the first game against Panama last Friday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
“I think everybody saw why I put him (Zwane) in the team. He is such a good player,” said Broos.
“He made us play better football. But I knew also that he’s not ready to play 90 minutes. And we have to take attention with him and be careful with him, not to overload him because when you overload him, he could have injuries, I’m sure of it.”
Broos has tested the Orlando Pirates midfielder Sipho Mbule, who impressed while filling in during the latter stages of last year’s Fifa World Cup qualifiers and AFCON preparations, in Zwane’s absence, but the Bafana coach still believes that nobody matches the Sundowns star for consistency.
Zwane has, however, made 16 appearances for the Brazilians this season with Sundowns coach using him sparingly and primarily as an impact player.
Broos is fully aware of the situation and is willing to give Zwane the time to get match-fit.
“He needs those minutes to play. You saw a few moments also in the game that he was a little bit too slow. And that is the reason. It's because he doesn't play enough.
“I can't decide about that, but I hope that he gets more play time in Sundowns also. Because he needs that rhythm of the game.”