Mosimane backs veteran Zwane selection and plans multiple Bafana Bafana captains

Pitso Mosimane has defended his decision to include Themba Zwane in the Bafana Bafana squad, despite the midfielder’s age and limited playing time at Mamelodi Sundowns.

Zwane, 37, is the oldest member of the squad selected for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, as well as the friendly international against Egypt.

His return follows the completion of a three-match suspension imposed after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee ruled that the red card he received in the World Cup opener against Mexico constituted serious misconduct.

Mosimane, who previously coached Zwane at Mamelodi Sundowns, said the player’s experience and quality were behind his selection. Zwane is known by the nicknames Shika and Mshishi.

“You don’t just choose because you have to choose,” Mosimane said.

“I don’t choose Themba Zwane who is 38 [37] just because I want to choose Themba Zwane because he was playing for me at Mamelodi Sundowns.

“I have a reason why I choose Themba Zwane.”

The coach also included Zwane in a wider discussion about leadership within the national team, making it clear that Bafana Bafana would not rely on one permanent captain.

Mosimane said captaincy should not be determined solely by a player’s age and that younger members of the squad should be given the opportunity to lead and develop in the role.

“We will have a few captains, and I will sometimes choose the captain of the day because if (Kylian) Mbappe can be captain we can also have a young captain.

“A captain doesn’t have to be a player just because he is 38 or 35.

“Okay, Themba Zwane is one of my captains by the way.

“So, we need young captains, we need young to lead, to learn, on how to be a captain.”

Mosimane said having several leaders would also provide flexibility if the regular captain were unavailable through injury or another absence.

“One captain, I don’t believe in that because if you are injured and you are not there…and you know the captain must always be playing, right,” he added.

“There are a lot of players with good leadership and for your own information Chaine is going to be one of the captains.

“Same as Ronwen (Williams) will still remain one of my captains.

“Let’s go for it. Let’s open this thing.”