Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has given an update on midfielder Themba Zwane’s injury ahead of his side’s sold-out league match with Orlando Pirates, saying he will return to training soon.
Mshishi picked up another knock in September after just having returned from a long layoff.
The coach said the Bafana Bafana international has started physical training, however they are careful not to rush him back to action before he is healed properly.
“You saw him today the training session was open training separated from the group,” said Cardoso.
“So he is still not integrated in the work of the group. What it means is he’s still not available on the coaching side.
“So he’s not yet in the moment of returning to performance it means he is now getting physical activities specific to playing football and from there he’ll have to recover his condition in order for us to put him to play again.
“One thing you need to understand Themba Zwane had a knee injury that was followed by a second one so we need to be very careful if we really want to give him conditions to play football this season and help Mamelodi Sundowns and after Bafana Bafana if the coach decides so.”
Cardoso was asked if the 36-year-old will be ready and available for the senior national team for the Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) starting in December in Morocco, and the Portuguese mentor said that’s something his Bafana counterpart Hugo Broos will decide – however he wishes to see Zwane get on the plane to North Africa.
“If you ask my expectations and my wishes, my wish is that Themba would go.” added Cardoso.
“Obviously on behalf of the love and the respect we have for Themba Zwane we cannot wish nothing more than having him on the highest platforms of South African football. He’s not a youngster anymore despite he has a lot of flame, pleasure and will to play football at the highest level and that’s what allows him to still be here as player that can perform.
“So we need to bring him back to competition and from there hope that he’s always in the national team. That’s what I’m going to do myself here, including the medical department, the performance department and the technical department inside Mamelodi Sundowns.”