Mamelodi Sundowns News Today: Why Downs players won’t face Nicaragua, Broos on Zwane selection & more

Latest news about Mamelodi Sundowns, including Hugo Broos’ reasons for including Themba Zwane and why Masandawana players will not play against Nicaragua.

Why Sundowns players will not play against Nicaragua

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Bross has revealed that he will not include Mamelodi Sundowns players in his first XI to face Nicaragua in their pre-World Cup friendly on Friday because he does not think they are focused enough after their CAF Champions League celebrations.

Hugo Broos on @Masandawana players needing rest:

“I have to take into account they are also human beings”#BafanaBafana | @10bet_ZA pic.twitter.com/wCMW3cMaxH

— Lorenz Köhler (@Lorenz_KO) May 28, 2026

“I think mentally they are not ready to focus on the World Cup, that’s why they will not be in the squad tomorrow for the game. They will have another day’s rest. They will be on the bench and in the worst case, maybe they will play ten minutes when there’s a player injured or what,” Broos said as per KickOff.

“But normally they will not be in the squad. They deserve some rest, certainly mentally. When you see the game on Sunday, it was mentally a difficult game, in a stadium, I don’t know how many people but they were all against Sundowns.”

Broos explains decision to select Themba Zwane

Bafana boss Hugo Broos says the experience and unique qualities of Themba Zwane are the reason he included the Sundowns playmaker into his final World Cup squad as he lacks a player of such a profile.

Zwane has struggled with injuries in the last one-and-a-half years but recovered and played, although sparingly, for Sundowns in the just concluded season, featuring in 24 matches.

“I know Themba is not ready to play 90 minutes. It is just impossible because he didn’t play so much with Sundowns. But he is a good player and can help us for 45, 60 minutes, or even less in a game,” said Broos.

“He is a player who we don’t have [another of] because of his qualities and experience. He is a good player; he is intelligent; he scores goals, and at the moment we don’t have that. That’s the reason Themba is with us. I know we will need him in some games, and the minutes he will play will help the team a lot. I am very happy that he is with us.”

RB Leipzig boss itching to face Mamelodi Sundowns

RB Leipzig manager Ole Werner cannot wait to see how his team will perform against Mamelodi Sundowns. The two clubs will face off in a friendly match on Friday night in part of the Bundesliga club’s tour of South Africa.

“As a football coach, you’re always looking ahead,” Soccer Laduma. “At some point, you won’t remember a random Matchday 11 fixture against Augsburg, Bremen, Hamburg or Hertha BSC. But you’ll definitely remember a friendly away to Mamelodi Sundowns.”

“The main thing is that we have a really good game. We want to give the people here something to enjoy. That goes for both teams. I think it’ll be a different crowd to what we’re used to, and that will be a brilliant experience.”