Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has opened up about his decision to leave Themba Zwane out of the final squad for the upcoming double-header against Kenya, admitting that it was an emotional moment for him because of the important relationship he shares with the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder.

Mosimane recently confirmed his final 27-man squad for the two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benni McCarthy's Harambee Stars. Zwane was among the biggest names to miss out after initially being included in the preliminary selection.

The experienced midfielder had been part of the previous Bafana camp and featured in South Africa's opening two AFCON qualifying matches. However, he will not be involved when the national team takes on Kenya in November.

His omission attracted attention because of his experience and influence in South African football. At 35, Zwane remains a respected figure at Mamelodi Sundowns and has been an important player for Bafana over the years.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Mosimane admitted that leaving the midfielder out was not an easy decision. He also revealed that Zwane has a special role within the national team setup, as the coach regularly relies on his advice when assessing the strengths of other players.

"Emotional, it was not an easy one, I had to drop Mshishi," Mosimane said.

The Bafana coach explained that Zwane does more than contribute as a player, as he also helps him understand what different footballers bring to the team.

"He's also my coach by the way Mshishi, he helps me with these boys to say coach, this one's strength is this," he added.

Mosimane's comments suggest that Zwane has become an important source of information and guidance for him, making the decision to leave him out even more difficult.

However, the coach also made it clear that he has to make decisions based on the needs of the team and give other players opportunities to prove themselves.

During his explanation, Mosimane brought up the situation involving Lyle Foster, questioning whether age should automatically become a reason to overlook a footballer.

He also reminded supporters of Zwane's contribution to South Africa's qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations, pointing out that selection decisions are not always straightforward.

Mosimane further revealed that he personally called Zwane to explain why he would not be part of the final squad.

"This thing is not just about the talent, it's emotional and I had to phone Mshishi," he said.

According to Mosimane, Zwane accepted the decision professionally and did not create any problems following the conversation.

Interestingly, the coach also revealed that Zwane supported giving Foster an opportunity, explaining that the striker has the strength to compete inside the penalty area and can provide goals for the national team.

The revelation offers an interesting insight into how the Sundowns midfielder reacted to missing out on the Kenya matches.

Bafana will now prepare for their two encounters against the Harambee Stars, with the first match scheduled for 13 November at Orlando Amstel Arena. South Africa will then travel to face Kenya away from home four days later.

With six points from their opening two qualifying matches, Mosimane's team will be looking to continue their positive start as they pursue qualification for the 2027 AFCON.

Source: IDiskiTimes