Themba Zwane nears return, faces biggest challenge of his career

Inspirational Mamelodi Sundowns captain Themba Zwane has fought many battles on the football pitch over the years, but now he faces the biggest challenge of his career. 

Zwane has been out of action since October when he was stretchered off the field with an Achilles tendon injury in Bafana Bafana's 1-1 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying draw against Congo in Brazzaville. 

He has started light training and it is unclear when he will be back in action. He readily admits, at 35, it is not going to be easy to force his way back into star-studded Downs' starting line-up after what will have been six months or more by the time he takes to the field.

Before he was injured, Zwane was the most influential creative player for the Brazilians, but things have changed at the club with new coach Miguel Cardoso having taken charge after the dismissal of Manqoba Mngqithi in December. 

Sundowns started slowly under Cardoso but they have improved markedly in their last two matches, both in the Betway Premiership, where they easily brushed aside Golden Arrows 4-0 and SuperSport United 3-0 with good attacking football. The signs in those performances, still so early in Cardoso's tenure, were trophy machines, regular Champions League knockout competitors and seven-time successive Premiership winners Downs could become even more formidable under the result-orientated, intense football of the 52-year-old Portuguese coach.

Sundowns have won six league matches in succession under Cardoso and they enjoy a six-point lead over second placed Orlando Pirates, who have played one less match. That could be extended to nine when the leaders and chasers meet in Saturday's huge top-of-the-table clash at Loftus Stadium (3.30pm). 

Cardoso also appears to have settled for his midfield combination of Teboho Mokoena, Lucas Ribeiro and Marcelo Allende. There may be an increased role for Jayden Adams in Zwane’s favoured No 10 role after the highly-rated 23-year-old January signing from Stellenbosch FC scored in his first Premiership start and second match in the league against SuperSport on Wednesday night. 

There are more players, such as Kobamelo Kodisang, Tashreeq Matthews and Sphelele Mkhulise, who are also preferred by Cardoso in midfield. This is going to make it difficult for Zwane to command a regular place in the team. 

The Bafana playmaker, whose place in the national squad for Afcon in Morocco will be in doubt if he doesn’t get enough game time at Sundowns in the coming months, has been here before and he is confident he will back. Zwane was initially controversially overlooked when Hugo Broos came into the Bafana job in 2001.

I had to push myself, it was difficult at first but with the support of my teammates and the medical team I have managed to pull through. I am running outside [the training field] and I don't feel any pain. It's just that it [the muscle] is tight but so far so good.

—  Themba Zwane

“Obviously it is going to difficult, but it goes with the belief,” he said on Thursday at an event where the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup made a stop on its global trophy tour at Downs' headquarters in Chloorkop. 

“I came to Sundowns from Mpumalanga Black Aces, I have been in similar situations. I have been fighting for my place because there are a lot of quality players here. The difference is your mindset, it is your belief and you have be strong mentally. And I think I have those qualities.” 

Zwane said it has been difficult idling on the sidelines over the past five months. 

“I had to push myself, it was difficult at first but with the support of my teammates and the medical team I have managed to pull through. I am running outside [the training field] and I don't feel any pain. It's just that it [the muscle] is tight, but so far so good.” 

Zwane will be a spectator on Saturday when Sundowns host Pirates. 

“It is an exciting game, they [Bucs] are a good team, but you can say the same about us. Our plan will be to go at them, we know that if we put more pressure and we are consistent in what we do, we will have a chance to win the match.”