Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has admitted having been caught by surprise following Themba Zwane’s exclusion from the Mamelodi Sundowns line-up in the CAF Champions League final against Pyramids FC.
‘Mshishi’ recently returned from a long-term injury sustained on national duty and featured in some matches for the Brazilians including the Champions League semi-final against Al Ahly. He is part of the Sundowns team that travelled to the USA for the FIFA Club World Cup where they will face Ulsan HD, Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense in Group F.
Sundowns fans and some pundits were not happy to see the captain not feature in the continental club competition finale as they felt Mshishi could have made a difference.
Broos was asked if he would like to see the 35-year-old get game time in America and he expressed that there must be an explanation on Zwane’s recent club snub however believes Miguel Cardoso knows what he is doing and that Zwane will return to the national team when he is ready.
“I said already before I think that Themba the injury is okay, but I have to see him every day,” said Broos.
“There must be a reason why he didn’t play so much for the moment and maybe he’s physically not in order, I don’t know. This is something, but I think that the coach knows what he does with Themba he also knows his qualities.
“And I think if Themba is ready to play a game, then I’m sure of it that he will play. But again, I don’t know the situation. I saw Themba I think two months ago when I visited Sundowns and when I had a chat with the new coach at that moment, everything went well, but he was certainly not ready.
“Okay, we are two months later now I don’t know. But I’m sure of it, when Themba is ready, when Themba will play games and the injury is okay, yeah, then that certainly is ready also to play for Bafana Bafana.”
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