Golden Arrows’ Nhlanhla Zwane backed for future Bafana Bafana call-up

Golden Arrows coach Pitso Dladla believes Nhlanhla Zwane has the ability to earn a future place in the Bafana Bafana squad, despite Ronaldo Van Neel being the club’s only player included in the preliminary squad for the next 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane selected Van Neel in his provisional group for the matches against Guinea and Eritrea. Dladla says Zwane and several other Golden Arrows players can force their way into the national-team picture if they continue to perform consistently.

Zwane has been a dependable figure for Abafana Bes’thende during the opening stages of the season, producing a series of impressive performances. Ayanda Jiyane is also regarded by Dladla as a potential international, although the defender is currently recovering from a muscle strain.

“It is immensely pleasing to see [Van Neel] get the nod for the national team. To be honest, we have so many talented players here. We have Nhlanhla Gasa. You can clearly see his bright future, along with Philani Khumalo and Sabelo Sithole,” Dladla said.

The Golden Arrows coach believes the club’s wider squad contains enough quality to provide further candidates for Bafana Bafana, provided those players maintain their standards and continue to set ambitious targets.

“There is a deep pool of talent at this club. As long as they perform consistently and stay with ambitious players like Ayabulela Maxwele, Nhlanhla Zwane and Khulekani Shezi, who is currently one of the finest right-backs in the country, the sky is the limit. They must maintain high personal ambitions.”

Dladla also suggested that Jiyane would probably have been considered for the national team had he been fit. Jiyane suffered a quad injury at the same time as Ntandoyenkosi Mabaso, leaving Golden Arrows without both of their first-choice central defenders.

“Regarding Jiyane, it is deeply unfortunate that he sustained a quad injury alongside Ntandoyenkosi Mabaso, who has sidelined both of our primary central defenders.

“I firmly believe that if Jiyane were injury-free, he would have earned a national team call-up because last season he was comfortably one of the best centre-backs in the country.”

Golden Arrows will now turn their attention to recovering from their first league defeat of the campaign. They were beaten 2-1 by Mamelodi Sundowns last Sunday and will attempt to return to winning form when they travel to face Siwelele.

The match will be played at Free State Stadium on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00.