Pitso defends Zwane’s Bafana Bafana selection BUT admits Appollis is ahead

Bafana Bafana mentor Pitso Mosimane has defended the decision to include Themba Zwane in his final squad.

The 37-year-old attacker was with the Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup but he only played for a few minutes.

And that’s because he was shown a straight red minutes after coming on in the opening game against Mexico on 11 June.

Now, while the majority expected Zwane to have played his final game for Bafana Bafana, Mosimane had other ideas.

Addressing the media on Monday, Mosimane said there are several reasons he called up Zwane to the squad.

Top of the list is Zwane’s experience coupled with the leadership skills, but Mosimane admitted that the veteran attacker is not in a very good physical condition to start ahead of Oswin Appollis of Orlando Pirates.

However, he feels Zwane is very effective in the last 15 to 10 minutes, and this is how he plans to utilize him.

As per Mosimane’s words, the captain’s armband will rotate, Zwane is one of the players earmarked for the role of skipper in the Bafana Bafana squad.

Also read: Sundowns get last-minute transfer deal over the line

PITSO ON WHY 37-YEAR-OLD ZWANE IS IN THE BAFANA BAFANA SQUAD

“Experience, leadership. Let him tell Puso what it is like to play for Bafana. What is expected to stay at the highest level, and patience also,” Mosimane told the media.

“[The last] 10, 15 minutes, he’s got that aura, combining things, but you know guys… he’s not in a very good physical condition to be playing ahead of Appollis, let’s be honest,” he added.

Also read: Pitso Mosimane announces new Bafana Bafana goalkeeper coach

BAFANA BAFANA’S NEXT THREE GAMES

Bafana Bafana will be at home against Guinea in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Saturday, 26 September.

Kick-off at Orlando Amstel Arena is at 15:00.

They will then fly to Egypt to face Eritrea on 30 September before playing an international friendly with the Pharaohs on 4 October.