Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has come out in defence of talisman Themba Zwane, following a wave of criticism from the supporters.
Zwane, a key figure in the Sundowns’ team, has faced growing scrutiny from a section of fans and pundits who believe his performances have dipped below his usual high standards.
However, Mokwena has firmly dismissed these criticisms, asserting that Zwane remains a vital asset to the team.
The Sudowns star, Zwane has been deployed an unfamiliar position as a false nine in recent games. This is because all the Tshwane giants’ natural strikers such as Peter Shalulile and Ribeiro Costa are out injured.
Zwane, who usually plays a 10 and excels has been struggling as a false nine in the first edition of the African Football League (AFL), where Mamelodi Sundowns are set to take on Wydad Casablanca in the second leg of the final this afternoon.
The Bafana Bafana international will lead from the front with the game set to start 15:00 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
RULANI MOKWENA SAYS THEMBA ZWANE HAS BEEN ‘FANTASTIC’
“I think Themba Zwane has come under a lot of undue criticism for his performances, and, in my opinion, I think he has been fantastic,” said Mokwena.
“I’m asking a 34-year-old to play in a different orientation. So, imagine for the last 10 to 15 years he’s been playing as a 10. His orientation of the pitch is towards the goal. And now, as a 10, a coach asks him to play as a nine, so he’s now orientation he’s back and towards the goal.
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“I think he has been amazing. He’s running his legs off. He has helped with certain movements and set up of the team. And, of course, is not his position, he’s not going to be a specialist in that area.
“So, I really think that some criticisms have been extremely unfair. But that’s football. Everybody is entitled to their opinions, and that is just my opinion on Mshishi’s performance.
“For a player of his magnitude, his stature, his profile and a leader, to be humble, accept to play in a different position and to do things that he normally doesn’t do, it shows the amount of humility, added Mokwena.
“But also, it shows the character, and now you can understand why, probably over the last 12, 13, maybe 14 years, he has been one of the best players in South African football because of his human qualities.”