Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has identified a Kaizer Chiefs midfielder he sees as a potential successor to Themba Zwane, who is approaching the twilight of his career.
The Mamelodi Sundowns talisman is 34 and Broos recently admitted he was in the search for his successor.
Mduduzi Mdantsane was called up to the Bafana squad as a replacement for Percy Tau, who requested to be excused from this camp.
Broos has explained the Chiefs midfielder’s inclusion, saying he had to look at someone “who can be a replacement” for ‘Mshishi’.
WHY MDUDUZI MDANTSANE IS A POTENTIAL THEMBA ZWANE REPLACEMENT
“I think last time I said when we talked about the replacement of Themba Zwane, we knew that Themba is at a certain age. We have to look for the future,” Broos said as quoted by iDiski Times.
“But we have someone behind him, certainly also for the AFCON. At his age, I don’t think every game every three days he can play for a hundred per cent.
“So you need someone there [to take the load too]. You need solutions. [Mdantsane] was on our list, so now, because Percy Tau [is out], we have two choices – to take another winger, or we take the opportunity to have someone maybe in the future who can be a replacement for Themba.
“And that is why he [Mdantsane] is there. Okay, I said what I said [about Themba in the past overlooking him], but stop now with that.
Broos went on to say his selection is not based on the teams they play for.
“I just choose players not because they are at Sundowns, not because they are at Chiefs or Orlando Pirates, I don’t choose them because they are in those teams – I just choose because I need them and they are the best at that moment in that position, that’s all.”
Bafana host eSwatini on Friday at FNB Stadium before they travel to Ivory Coast next Tuesday.
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