Themba Zwane: Mamelodi Sundowns captain reveals when he plans to retire

Mamelodi Sundowns captain Themba Zwane has opened up on when he feels it will be time for him to retire.

Zwane has been at Sundowns since 2011 and he holds the club’s record for the most appearances, having made 427, while he has 80 goals and 60 assists.

At 36, Zwane is still going strong at the club where he has won 10 league titles as well as the CAF Champions League although injuries have hampered him in the last one year.

Mshishi makes clear stance on retirement

Zwane is struggling with fitness issues again this season, having endured a painful and lengthy spell on the sidelines last term when he suffered an Achilles injury that needed surgery in October 2024.

However, even with his limited appearances and niggling injuries in recent months, Mshishi is still not looking to hang his boots just yet, admitting the thrill of playing and winning more titles still ticks his fancy.

“To be honest, I will say, as long as God gives me strength, I will still be there in the field and push myself,” Zwane told iDiski Times. “But when the time is right, I will also raise my hands and say, ‘Now it’s time’.”

What does the future hold for Zwane?

Zwane has made just five appearances this season, starting two games, but that is down to an injury suffered in September which is threatening to lock him out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The playmaker has one month to prove his fitness to Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos for the AFCON 2025 squad and will hope to get back to action quickly in the next weeks after returning to training.

Zwane was handed a one-year contract extension by Sundowns at the end of last season and will need to have a good second half of the 2025-26 campaign to earn another stay of execution.