Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has provided insight into the recall of influential playmaker Themba Zwane who last featured for the country in 2024.
Zwane has been named in the final 23-man squad that will face Panama in two games in Durban and Cape Town on 27 and 31 March as preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Having overcome a serious Achilles injury suffered against Congo Brazzaville nearly two years ago, he suffered another injury which ruled him out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
But he’s now made 16 appearances for Sundowns this season – leading to his recall, which Broos could not hide his delight about, with optimism he can make the sort of impact that made him the number one playmaker in the country.
“I don’t have to explain what impact Themba had on the national team, and then suddenly he had an injury which I honestly thought was the end of his career, when you have that injury on the age, there’s a big chance your career if finished,” Broos said.
“But when I heard how hard he worked to come back and when I heard his ambition to come back, I spoke to him, the last qualifier against Rwanda, I spoke to him for five minutes and I felt immediately how he’d love to be with the national team again.
“Then you don’t have to hesitate when that guy is fit, and I don’t – we will see now how fit he is and what he can bring us in the national team. I hope that we can have the Themba Zwane that is really important for the team.
“He is a very experienced player, you don’t hear him, but everyone has respect for him, and I see also at Sundowns, everyone has respect for him – and sometimes it’s very important to have such a player on your team.”
Zwane, Oswin Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng are the three players selected who could play in the 10-role used in Broos’ system.
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