Themba Zwane has engraved his name in continental football, endearing himself to the football fraternity due to his humble personality and footballing depth.
So much so that as a rare opportunity looms large for him to hoist his second continental crown, the masses are rooting for him to go all the way.
The Mamelodi Sundowns captain will lead his teammates when they face Pyramids FC in tomorrow’s CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld (3pm kick-off) in the first of a two-legged tie.
And that would be the first real chance for the team to grab the continental crown for the first time in nine years, their best finish since 2016 having been the semi-finals.
The shortcomings over the years have stung for the club as they’ve invested a lot of resources into the team, trying to ensure that they finally get over the finish line.
It must have also been painful for Zwane, as he felt that he couldn’t do enough to guide the team into the showdown, having been in the squad that triumphed in 2016.
But the football gods and hard work might finally repay Sundowns and Zwane as they are now two matches away from winning a record-extending second continental title.
Teko Modise, speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the new Champions League trophy at TotalEnergies’ offices in Rosebank yesterday, backed the team to go all the way.
“It’s been eluding them for so many years, and but there’s an opportunity to change that this time around,” said Modise, who was part of the Pitso Mosimane’s Class of 2016.
“They have better players than we did in 2016, so I believe that they can win it.
“Pyramids might be playing in the final for the first time, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be a walkover.
“It’s going to be tough come Saturday, but personally I want to see Mamelodi Sundowns win it, especially for Mshishi.”
Modise is right – Mshishi, as Zwane is affectionately known, is befitting of winning the African crown.
He has been the cornerstone of the Brazilians for years.
Zwane led from the front when Sundowns won the last seven Premiership titles, and when he got injured this season, it sent the football masses into panic mode.
However, his teammates were able to hold their own and steer the team to a record-extending eighth consecutive title via the Premiership last Sunday.
Zwane’s ability to recover just in time for their title coronation and the two-legged final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday and in Cairo on June 1 gives Modise comfort.
“Mshishi has never had (serious) injuries, but this season, he had a career-threatening injury that we didn’t know how soon he’d be able to recover from,” Modise said.
“He’s back and playing in the team. His influence on the team, on the pitch, is something that we need for this type of final.
“He was there in 2016 – alongside Denis Onyango – so he knows the feeling.
“You need such players to inspire the one that has never been in this position before.”
Zwane is not only respected and adored by his former teammates such as Modise, but the current troops as well.
As such, after the Brazilians’ No 1 Ronwen Williams saw the new trophy for the first time yesterday, he made a selfless revelation.
“It looks amazing, and it’s obviously much bigger than the previous one. It looks good, and the design is amazing. It feels real, and it’s now settling in – it’s showtime,” he said.
“I am happy that they didn’t allow me to touch it. I wouldn’t want to touch it before my captain Mshishi does.
“He deserves that honour to lift it in the next 10 days or so (in Cairo).
“But, yeah, we can’t wait to (win) get our hands on it.”
Williams and Co know that it won’t be easy to win the title, given that Pyramids are also gunning for the crown after punching above their weight this season.
But such are the heartbreaks that the Brazilians have endured in the past in competition, Williams insists that this final could make the wait worth it.
“That’s why we come to Mamelodi Sundowns, because they are part and parcel of the big tournaments,” Williams added.
“There’s nothing that’s bigger than the CAF Champions League, especially in Africa.
“So yeah, it’s amazing for us.
“This is years and years of hard-work and sacrifice, we have been pushing and kept grinding.
“We knew that one day, we’ll knock the door down and get to the final.
“It’s been eluding us for a long time.
“So, big credit and kudos to the players. They showed character and kept going after losing (in the semis). So, it’s a perfect moment for us!”
