Don’t write off Themba Zwane, warns Sundowns legend Hlompho Kekana

Mamelodi Sundowns are making significant progress in the Betway Premiership without their darling and inspirational captain Themba Zwane under coach Miguel Cardoso.

Zwane's long-time former captain Hlompho Kekana, though, has stressed even at 35 and after five months out at such an advanced age, and with young stars threatening to unseat him, it would be foolhardy to bet against arguably South Africa's best creative player of the past decade being unable to regain his place for club and country.

Zwane has been out of action since he was stretchered off the field with a career-threatening Achilles injury in Bafana Bafana's 1-0 2026 World Cup qualifying draw against Congo in Brazzaville in October 2024. 

Cardoso arrived at Chloorkop to replace Manqoba Mngqithi in December with Zwane in the treatment room and since then Sundowns have established an imposing 18-point lead over second-placed challengers Orlando Pirates, without their veteran star playmaker. 

In his absence, a new-look Sundowns midfield looks settled with Teboho Mokoena, Marcelo Allende, Lucas Ribeiro and Jayden Adams making huge contributions. It remains to be seen how Zwane will fit back in or be used. 

Adams has impressed since his arrival at Chloorkop from Stellenbosch FC in January and if he continues at this rate, the highly-rated 23-year-old will be a crucial players in Downs' push to wrap up an eighth successive Premiership and win the Champions League. 

Zwane, fondly known as 'Mshishi', faces a difficult task returning to his best and reclaiming his position, but Downs' multi-trophy-lifting captain Kekana is confident he will be back for supporters to savour the beloved creative midfielder's qualities again.

“I am asking, please [don’t talk about the end of Themba Zwane]. 'Shika' is football and he will be back,” said Kekana, using the shortened version of Zwane's other nickname, 'Shikabala'. 

“If you want to speak about the man who knows the moments, it’s Themba Zwane. He is not structured and to figure him out you need to go to the stadium and watch him play football. 

“If you watch him on TV, you will see someone like any other footballer but he is different and you will never see any player like Themba. While I was still playing, when we were under pressure we used to say just give the ball to Themba so we could have a breather. 

“We don't know how he managed to take the pressure off us — no matter the amount of space or match situation just pass him the ball and he will deal with it. To be honest with you, to this day I don't know how he did it.” 

Kekana said even his teammates were in awe of Zwane's brilliance with the ball at his feet. 

“I remember Jeremy Brockie used to say, 'I wish I could open his head and see when he is going to breach the ball, because I don’t know when he is going to pass to me.' 

“I remember one incident at half time, Khama Billiat said he would pay his last money to watch Mshishi play football. Sometimes we will wait in anticipation for when he is going to pass the ball. You need to be at that level of thinking to know when he is ready to release the ball. 

“He is that type of player who does not make eye contact with everybody, so you need to be awake all the time and smart to be able to deal with him. If you speak about a system at Sundowns, we give it to him and for the last five years we can easily say he has been holding the Sundowns system [together].” 

Kekana said Zwane is often given the free role as a playmaker and opposition sides have regularly failed to figure him out. 

“If I ask what’s his position, you are going to say somewhere in front of the midfielders or somewhere in the midfield because you cannot figure him out. That’s how he has been special for South African football. 

“That's why I hate it when I hear conversations where we start comparing him to Hlompho Kekana, for example, because we will never enjoy him if we do that. I speak from a place of understanding because I was once a player. 

“There are so many things that when you are a player you do them and they are easy on the eye. Wait until Themba is no longer playing and you will realise he was doing a lot. 

“People will start to appreciate him then but it will be too late.” 

Zwane, who is back at full training but yet to kick an official ball this season, recently spoke about his recovery and vowed to fight for his place back in the team. 

Cardoso recently said he expects Zwane to be back before the Fifa Club World Cup in the US in June and July. 

“For sure Themba [Zwane] will recover in time, not only for the Fifa Club World Cup but to play before that. We have expectations that he can recover together with Mothobi Mvala, Divine Lunga and Khuliso Mudau in different stages. He will come [back] much sooner than that,” Cardoso said. 

Zwane is believed to be on the verge of a return to play. He might even be included in a match-day squad as early as in Downs' league clash against Lamontville Golden Arrows at Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday or Nedbank Cup quarterfinal against Sekhukhune United in Atteridgeville on Saturday.