Fresh from rewriting the history books, Mamelodi Sundowns’ much-loved captain Themba Zwane has addressed his future at the club, making his ‘wish’ clear after conquering Africa for the second time.
The legendary midfielder was speaking to the media at a vibrant OR Tambo International Airport just after midnight on Tuesday morning, where thousands of singing and dancing Sundowns fans gathered to welcome the continental champions home with incredible energy.
This massive celebration came right after Masandawana beat Morocco’s AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate to earn their second continental star, a decade after their maiden triumph. A gruelling 1-1 draw in the second leg of the final in Rabat on Sunday was enough to secure the title following Sundowns’ 1-0 victory on home soil in the first leg.
And with this latest triumph, the Tshwane giants stand alone as the only South African side with more than one CAF Champions League title.
By lifting the 2025/26 African crown, Zwane etched his name into the annals of domestic football folklore as the first South African to win the Champions League twice while playing for a PSL club. While his former teammate Percy Tau has won the tournament multiple times, those subsequent gold medals were achieved during his stint with Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
The veteran midfielder, alongside goalkeeper Denis Onyango, stands as one of only two surviving members of the iconic Sundowns class of 2016 that conquered the continent under Pitso Mosimane. A decade ago, the 26-year-old Zwane was just beginning to establish his reputation as Chloorkop’s favourite son. Ten years later, he has evolved into the team’s ultimate leader, cementing his legacy by capturing his second star.
Yet, when asked directly about his future at Chloorkop amid the airport celebrations, the veteran midfielder admitted to uncertainty about his contract.
INJURY BATTLES AND THE CONTRACT REALITY FOR THEMBA ZWANE
“To be honest, I don’t know,” said Zwane when asked about his future at Sundowns. “I don’t want to lie, I don’t know, but for now I’m just enjoying this moment [Champions League triumph] with the guys, and we will see as time goes by. But obviously my wish is to stay here and finish my career at Mamelodi Sundowns.”
While the victory highlights Zwane’s incredible longevity and immense value to Sundowns, it also underscores a changing of the guard at Chloorkop. In the just-ended season, his progress on the pitch was heavily hindered by injuries, restricting him to just 23 appearances with just a single assist to his name.
‘Mshishi’ started only seven games—all on the domestic scene—and came off the bench in all four of his matches in the Champions League campaign, including the late minutes of the final legs.
Ahead of the 2025/26 season, Zwane was out of contract, and Sundowns opted to give him a one-year deal, which is now due to expire at the end of June 2026. With only a few weeks left before his contract expires, Zwane is now eligible to sign a pre-contract with another club according to FIFA regulations.
Yet, his value to the technical team stretches far beyond his recent goal contributions. Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is a big fan of the player, and so is Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos. Broos has named the Tembisa-born star in his preliminary squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, having frequently voiced his concerns about not finding a player worthy to replace Zwane in the number 10 role until young Relebohile Mofokeng slowly and seemingly stepped up to the plate.
RELATED STORY: Themba Zwane reflects on Sundowns long journey to Morocco