Pitso Mosimane reveals emotional call that sealed Themba Zwane’s Bafana fate
Pitso Mosimane revealed Themba Zwane selflessly backed Lyle Foster’s inclusion after being omitted from the Bafana Bafana squad, signaling the veteran's likely international curtain call.
Themba Zwane's potential departure from the Bafana Bafana squad has been revealed by his former coach Pitso Mosimane. Mosimane announced his final 27-man squad on Thursday for the upcoming 2027 Afcon qualifiers against Kenya, with Zwane notably absent from the list. The decision to omit the 37-year-old was not an easy one for Mosimane, who praised Zwane during his return to the Bafana hot seat two months ago.
Mosimane admitted that dropping Zwane meant losing a vital source of tactical input for the forward line and serving as a coach to the younger players. He emphasized that the decision was made with the team's future in mind, as younger attacking options provide the freshness and clinical edge needed. Mosimane questioned whether leaving Zwane behind would be seen as burying him or forgetting his contribution to qualifying for the Afcon and the World Cup.
Despite the emotional nature of the decision, Mosimane called Zwane personally to explain his omission, and Zwane responded professionally, stating that he supported the decision. Mosimane praised Zwane as a role model and admitted that other players now sit ahead of him in the pecking order, indicating that his international career may have come to an end.
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