Hugo Broos Comments on Themba Zwane’s Injury Concerns at Mamelodi Sundowns

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has weighed in on the latest injury setback faced by veteran midfielder Themba Zwane at Mamelodi Sundowns. Zwane was forced off just 15 minutes into the MTN8 semi-final first leg against Orlando Pirates, raising concerns over his fitness.

The 36-year-old had been involved in all matches for Sundowns this season and played in every game at the FIFA Club World Cup before this injury. Zwane returned to action in April after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained on Bafana Bafana duty in October last year. That injury sidelined him for six months.

Broos acknowledged the challenge of managing an older player with a serious past injury. “This is not a surprise for me if you are at that age and you have that injury,” he said. “I was afraid that it might be the end of Themba’s career. This was not a little muscle injury, it was an Achilles. He worked very hard, and now he is paying a little bit the bill because before this, Themba was never injured.”

The coach stressed that careful management is essential going forward. “I think Sundowns has to be careful with him in the future. At his age and after such an injury, you can’t ask a player to play every game. Otherwise, he could go from one injury to another.”

Broos remains optimistic about Zwane’s contribution to both club and country. “I count on him and hope we can have him fit for the next months for AFCON and even maybe for the World Cup,” he added.

Zwane’s situation highlights the delicate balance of relying on experienced players while managing injury risk, particularly after significant injuries in the past. Sundowns and Bafana Bafana will need to monitor his workload to ensure his longevity on the pitch.