Broos Hopes For Zwane’s Return In September
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos expressed his satisfaction with the team’s 2-0 win over Mozambique, but also highlighted the ongoing search for a player to fill the void left by vice-captain Themba Zwane.
The veteran midfielder has been sidelined due to an injury he picked up in October’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo away, and Broos admitted that finding a suitable replacement has been a challenge.
While players like Patrick Maswanganyi, Jayden Adams, and Sinoxolo Kwayiba have been filling Zwane’s position, Broos noted that none of them possess the same style of play as the experienced midfielder.
“The only thing I can say, and I can take as an example from today [Tuesday], we had Kwayiba, but Kwayiba has a different style of play than Themba, even though they are playing a little bit same position,” Broos said, acknowledging that Zwane’s unique qualities are hard to replicate.
“So, I have to be honest that until now we haven’t found the second Themba, that type of a player.”
However, Broos is hopeful that Zwane will be ready to return to the team in September, when Bafana Bafana resume the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
“But maybe we can solve it in another way, and that’s something we wanted to see and solve in these two games,” Broos added.
“But I think Themba will be ready in September, and if he’s not, then we have to look for a second option.”
Zwane’s road to recovery has been a long one, and he has struggled to break into the lineup on his club side, the Brazilians, even after recovering from his injury two months ago.
Despite being offered a new one-year deal, Miguel Cardoso has been sidelining Zwane, and he was even sidelined in both legs of the CAF Champions League final against Pyramids.
Broos’ comments suggest that he values Zwane’s experience and skills and is counting on his return to bolster the team’s chances in the World Cup qualifiers.
With Zwane’s leadership and creativity, Bafana Bafana could make a significant impact on the international stage.
As the team prepares for the qualifiers, Broos will be working on finding solutions to fill the gap left by Zwane, either by developing existing players or exploring new options.
