I’m not special
Themba Zwane is an elite footballer. When he is on the field, either for Mamelodi Sundowns or Bafana Bafana, you know some magic is in store. So highly rated and adored by the football-loving public that the mere mention of his name on social media evokes animated debate, with some recalling moments of individual brilliance he served up in this or that match, and others going as far as comparing him to legends of South African football who have long retired. If that is not a true sign of a legend in the making, then we don’t know what is. The kid
Soccer Laduma: Themba, thank you so much for your time as we know how busy your schedule must be being part of the squad representing Bafana Bafana at the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations out in Cote d’Ivoire. What is the attraction to playing in the tournament?
Themba Zwane: It’s a great feeling to get an opportunity to compete against top-level players to test my abilities and learn from them.
SL: Talking about competing against top-level players, who are you most looking forward to playing against at the African showpiece?
TZ: Mohamed Salah. He’s currently the best African player.
SL: A year ago, did you see yourself in the current Bafana Bafana squad going to Ivory Coast?
TZ: Yes, I’m a very positive-minded person. Once I have a vision, I work hard to achieve it.
SL: You’ve been one of the most consistent performers in the league. How do you do it?
TZ: I always take time to concheck sult with team analysts to my tactical and fitness levels. They’ll give me a report on which areas I need to attack more based on my heat maps. Do I need to rest or add an extra training session? Is it endurance or strengthening I should focus on? It takes time, but the results have been amazing.
SL: What qualities does it take to be an elite player in your position?
TZ: I play as a 10. You must be tactically and technically sound. The emphasis is on scanning the opposition to create space for yourself, so you need an excellent first touch and quick thinking to change direction and initiate attacks. You need to be able to play between the lines and in very tight spaces.
SL: A lot is always expected from you, whether at club or national team level. How do you manage the weight of expectations on your shoulders?
TZ: I always do my best without complaints and expectations. I don’t doubt my abilities as a footballer; hence you’ll see me in a calm state all the time.
SL: When you watch football live or on TV, do you relax and enjoy the game or are you working?
TZ: I always watch to learn. As a player, the main priority is to master your position and find means to counter the opposition’s trickery. who made his debut for the Brazilians back in 2011 is now a veteran, carrying the hopes of a nation on his shoulders at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations that is currently underway in Cote d’Ivoire, where Hugo Broos’ men are eyeing gold, despite having lost the opening game against Mali on Tuesday. Courtesy of the Tembisa-born star’s personal sponsors PUMA, Soccer Laduma had an opportunity to talk to Zwane about the tournament, how he manages to stay on top of his game and his new role club level, among other
cs.
SL: Many footballers across the world head for Europe to grow their careers, but what are the pros and cons?
TZ: It depends on individual players’ ambitions. Yes, Europe offers the highest level of competition because the majority of their leagues and competitions are of a very high standard and demand a lot from players. Having said that, we have seen the quality of African football in the CAF ChamCup pions League, CAF Confederation and African Football League that we are not far off. Our leagues are also improving.
SL:
We see a number of mising talents that sometimes never illed. What’s advice to the ger players longevity con
The on their se every tool le to them to make a career out of football.
SL: Back to Afcon. What are your impressions of the home nation, who played Bafana in October last year and won their opening game against Guinea-Bissau convincingly last Saturday?
TZ: Ivory Coast is very good team, with big-name players with lots of experience. A very tactical team with physical presence, they are one of the favourites to lift the trophy. Striker Sebastian Haller is top quality, no doubt, but we focus on team strategies.
SL: As for Bafana, what are the strengths that you feel the team possesses?
TZ: We are a young, energetic team with potential to do great things. We want to do well for our people.
SL: Now to club football. What do you think of Mamelodi Sunthe downs’ dominance in DStv Premiership?
TZ: Sundowns’ culture is to win and dominate in all competitions we comin. pete We want to set high standards wherever we play.
SL: How did winning the inaugural Afric an Football League feel, after failing to win the CAF Champions League again since 2016?
TZ: The feeling was amazing. However, the CAF Champions League is a different animal altogether, but we are on the right track.
SL: How are you taking to your new role, with coach Rhulani Mokwena managing your legs because of your age and the busy schedule the club has?
TZ: Looking at our match and travel schedule, I understand the coach’s thinking. He’s managing my time so that I can be in a better position to help the team. I don’t complain, I share the team’s vision.
SL: What makes “Mshishi” so special that, despite the talent and quality at Sundowns, your absence is always felt?
TZ: I’m not special, I work hard and intelligently. I make sure I fully understand all my roles in possession of the ball and off it. In that way, I’m always involved in the game.
SL: Which boots do you play in? TZ: I’m a PUMA Future player. I love the design; it’s made for creme. ative players like I love the different colours I have gotten to wear this year and I’m excitedly looking forward to what the new year brings.
SL: One more question before we let you go. The nation holds its breath and has waited a long time for the 1996 success to be replicated. With that in mind, do you have any message to South Africans and Bafana Bafana supporters?
TZ: When we put on the national team shirt, we do that with pride. We represent our proud nation, and we’ll do our best to make them proud. ❐
“Hitler tendency” of their chairman, John Comitis, they could have found themselves in the same situation. The PSL needs to explain to the public, especially the footballloving public, what they mean when talking about conflict of interest while both Soweto teams are being sponsored by a very successful networking company while these teams also take part in a competition sponsored by MTN. Arrows are being sponsored by a betting company and City were also once sponsored by another betting company, SportPesa. But when another betting company wants to sponsor Swallows, it’s a conflict of interest. How? Fellow readers, please don’t get me wrong, as a soccer-loving individual it is very concerning to see the double standards. The PSL should come out and explain its side of the story. Simphiwe Jimmy Thomas, Elliot, Eastern Cape
If the comments, attributed to Hugo Broos, doing the rounds on social media, wherein he says Rhulani Mokwena thinks he’s God, are anything to go by, then we definitely have a problem in our hands with this old man. Mokwena is the head coach and has every right to complain, comment or say whatever about his players. I think it’s high time SAFA sits down with this madala and calls him to order for ‘bringing South African football into disrepute’, otherwise poor Rhulani and the team called Kaizer Chiefs will have to suffer for their existence until the old man leaves our shores for good. Anyway, I don’t see him staying if Bafana Bafana fail in Ivory Coast. Mompati Panyaza Ndlovu, Lekubu village, Zeerust
Hugo Broos was already making excuses before the game against Mali. Why is he accusing the PSL, local coaches and Rhulani in foreign media? Accusing the Downs coach of being South Africa’s Mourinho and that people agree or follow him in everything he says is unfair and unjustified. Broos says he was denied access at Orlando Stadium three times and that his requests for a meeting with PSL coaches were ignored. I’m disappointed and starting to question his confidence in doing well in this tournament. As a coach, he has to take responsibility when the team doesn’t meet the required result. As much as we support him and the boys, he must discipline his tongue and respect his job. Terah Maqepula, Mount Fletcher, Eastern Cape
I’ve always been a fan of coach Riveiro, but I now think he has lost his way at my club. He must be relieved of his duties with immediate effect before too much damage is done. The Bucs management has given him all the weapons and support necessary and he has not repaid all that. From signing top-class young talent and experienced players, letting him recruit his own backroom staff to taking the team to his native country Spain for pre-season training and playing friendlies with good clubs over there. We were beaten by a small Botswana team, Jwaneng, then won the MTN8 by sheer luck and got beaten by Spurs who, after 15 games, boast of beating only Bucs and a draw. We lost the Carling Cup game to a very small team, Richards Bay FC, and have lost the last two games of 2023 having led. Very poor display. Now to the suggested solution to bring Pirates back to where it should be, competitive. As supporters, we are giving our entire support by attending games and singing for the team for the whole game and even after we lost. Release Riveiro and hire Pitso. Trim the team by releasing about 12 players. Sign two South American strikers and one midfielder. No, you do not have to wait for the end-of-season report. You can see we are spiralling downward. Do we, as supporters, have to stay at home and wait for the end-of-season report as well? Switch off DStv when Bucs play?
I was impressed when the commentator immediately
mentioned it would be five minutes added after keeper Ederson was replaced during the
Manchester City v Newcastle game. I wish PSL can copy this good practice as sometimes more minutes are added unnecessarily to give the favourites time to score. Kevin De Bruyne marked his long-awaited return with a goal and assist to secure three points. Newcastle could have easily got something from the game had they not chosen to defend in the second half. Coming to Mother Africa… Africa Cup of Nations favourites Nigeria, Ghana and Egypt had a start they didn’t expect against minnows Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde and Mozambique respectively. It seems we must brace ourselves for an interesting Afcon with lots of upsets. Hopefully, Bafana will make us proud!
Amos “Tiger” Tshukudu, Ga-Maria