Hugo Broos sends stern message to Miguel Cardoso on how to handle ageing and fragile Bafana Bafana vice-captain Themba Zwane - 'Mamelodi Sundowns have to be careful with him, I count on him, I hope he will be good AFCON and World Cup'

Mamelodi Sundowns captain Themba Zwane is back on the sidelines after recently sustaining a thigh injury, which could see him back in action after two months.

This was after the 36-year-old spent the better part of last season out nursing a torn Achilles tendon. 

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has pleaded with Sundowns coach Miguek Cardoso to take extra care of his key man, whom he feels he needs at December's 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals, as well as the 2026 FIFA World Cup should South Africa qualify.

“You know this is not a surprise for me if you’re at that age and you have that kind of injury,” said Broos when speaking to reporters.
“I was afraid it was the end of Themba’s career. This was not a minor muscle injury; it is an Achilles injury. He worked very hard, and now I think he is paying a little bit of a bill [price].
“His injury has fully recovered. But I think in the future, Sundowns have to be careful with him. At that age and after such an injury, you can’t ask a player to play every game, especially taking into account his age [36]," added the Belgian.
“They have to be careful with him in the future because I’m afraid Themba will go from one injury to another. I count on him. I hope he will be good and that we can count on him in the coming months for Afcon and even for the World Cup.”

A lot is at stake for Zwane this season as he recovers from his thigh injury.  

After being excluded from the CAF Champions League final, Zwane would not want to miss out on key events coming into the next year. 

Having won the Champions League in 2016, Zwane still has an opportunity to lift the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as well as possibly participating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

The Masandawana skipper is working on getting his fitness back ahead of arguably Africa's biggest football tournament in December.