Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango says the timely return of captain Themba Zwane could be key in their fight for CAF Champions League and Betway Premiership glory.
Veteran midfielder Zwane came off the bench for the last 20 minutes of Sundowns’ goalless draw with Al Ahly in the first leg of their Caf Champions League semi-final at Loftus Stadium. It was his first taste of competitive football after recovering from an Achilles injury sustained while on international duty with Bafana Bafana in October.
Last week, ‘Mshishi’ and Sundowns completed a new deal that will keep him at Chloorkop until the end of the 2025/26 season, extending his tenure beyond the previously scheduled expiry of June 2025.
Sundowns have missed Zwane’s leadership in the dressing room and his undoubted class on the field. His little cameo on Saturday showed his quality, but Sundowns know they will have to manage their skipper in what is going to be an all-action next few weeks.
Onyango, however, is confident that Zwane will be able to contribute positively to the team’s dream of continental glory and in the league despite not quite being ready to play the full 90 minutes.
“It was very good [to see Zwane back], you could see the stadium was excited, he’s the captain of the team and it was very good to have him back on the field after a very long time,” Onyango told reporters after the Al Ahly stalemate.
“He’s very influential to the team and the youngsters love him, the country loves him, and the team loves him – when he’s on the pitch, things happen, he looks after the ball and looks for the [key] passes.
“So we hope that he gets the match fitness he needs and helps the team towards the end of the season.”
Onyango says he expects Friday’s return leg to be a lot more open after the Egyptian giants “parked the bus” by playing five at the back in Pretoria.
Sundowns certainly have the technical quality to play through the lines, especially with Zwane possibly coming off the bench in the second half when the semi-final could become an end-to-end affair.
“It wasn’t a very bad game, but it also wasn’t a very good game from our side – I believe the fact that we did not concede leaves [the tie] open because we know we can score and we’ve won in Cairo before,” said Onyango.
“So it’s still open for anyone, but the goal is to go to the final and everyone is looking forward – of course, we would have made it difficult for them by scoring a goal at home, but it was not meant to be.
“They had a very compact five at the back and they were closing the midfield so, for me, I think it will be more open in Cairo than it was here in Pretoria.”
@JohnGoliath82
