Mamelodi Sundowns News: Mosimane on Zwane snub, Ndlovu call

Latest Mamelodi Sundowns news, including why Pitso Mosimane dropped Thema Zwane from his final Bafana squad and his decision to call up Siyanda Ndlovu who was not in the preliminary squad.

Latest Mamelodi Sundowns News

Mosimane explained emotional Zwane exclusion

Themba Zwane when he was sent off against Mexico. Photo: Imago

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has opened up on the tough decision of dropping Mamelodi Sundowns captain Themba Zwane from his final squad to face Kenya in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Zwane was among the big names who missed out and Mosimane admits that it was a tough call to leave out the veteran but he needed fresh legs in attack.

“It was a bit difficult for the forward line,” Mosimane said. “It was an emotional one because I had to drop ‘Mshishi’. He’s also my coach, by the way. He helps me with the analysis of youngsters, saying: ‘Coach, this is this player’s strength.’ I left a coach behind.”

Themba Zwane in action for Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: Mamelodi Sundowns

“I also had to ask myself: ‘Are we burying Lyle? Is he 35 years old? Is he not a good player anymore?’” Mosimane posed.

“Should we forget who scored the goals that qualified us for the Afcon and the World Cup? If I don’t call him, people will say: ‘He’s emotional and supports Zwane.’ This decision wasn’t about talent; it was very emotional.”

“Yes, I called him to explain. He took it very well because he’s a consummate professional,” Mosimane added. “Themba Zwane is a role model. He said: ‘Coach, relax. Let’s give Lyle a chance. We are playing at home. He’s deadly inside the box, and he can score for us.’”

Bafana coach on why he called up Ndlovu

Siyanda Ndlovu of Mamelodi Sundowns will face his ex-team in the Carling Knockout. Image: Mamelodi Sundowns

Meanwhile, Mosimane has explained the move to call up Sundowns forward Siyanda Ndlovu despite not having him in the preliminary squad.

“Remember the preliminary squad [Tshepang] Moremi was not in the preliminary squad, but he played against Egypt. So preliminary squad is a squad we name because of many, many, many reasons,” he said as quoted by iDiski Times.

“First, we acknowledge we’re saying ‘we are watching you’. We acknowledge what your contribution is, especially like we see Man of the Matches. I think three times in a row, four times in a row [for Ndlovu].

Siyanda Ndlovu of Mamelodi Sundowns. Image: Mamelodi Sundowns

“I mean, you cannot ignore that, right? And we need to encourage. And we don’t call him to say to say, ‘Ah, you’re going to play’. No, we’re not saying that.

“We are saying you are part of the team. We’re building a team. We’re building a pool of players that we have a vision. We have a vision 2030, right?”

“I hope we get with the World Cup, right? That’s the vision we have. But we need to behave the vision. We need to have AFCON finals, right? Yes, we are in the qualifiers. You got to win. You can’t talk about AFCON finals and the World Cup.”