One of the greatest players in Mamelodi Sundowns FC’s history, Themba Zwane is primed to showcase his talents on the global stage at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.
Zwane, 35, has been a driving force behind the club’s sustained success for more than a decade. A midfielder with exceptional technique and elite football intelligence, he can unlock opposition defences in an instant with an eye-of-the-needle pass or a perfectly timed run into the box. Captain Zwane’s inspiring leadership skills have also been consistently lauded by his team-mates.
The South African champions have been drawn in an intriguing group with Ulsan HD, Fluminense FC and Borussia Dortmund, and a fit and firing Zwane will likely be pivotal to their hopes to qualifying for the knockout phase.
Already a bona fide Sundowns legend, the Club World Cup offers the evergreen playmaker an opportunity to further add to his legacy.
Factfile
Age: 35
Position: Attacking midfielder
Nationality: South African
Key attributes: Passing, creativity, leadership
Outstanding achievements
Zwane has been part of a serial winning machine at Mamelodi Sundowns. Among a host of domestic titles, he has helped the club to South African league championship triumphs in each of the past seven seasons.
After a particularly outstanding campaign in 2019/20, Zwane was named as the top-flight’s Player of the Season.
The midfielder was also a member the Sundowns squad which won the CAF Champions League for the first time in 2016.
At international level, Zwane has made more than 50 senior appearances for South Africa and instrumental in their third-place finish at the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
Quotes
“Themba’s consistency throughout the years, you only see that in the highest-level players like Ronaldo and Messi. At his age, he inspires me to keep going every day. He is a true South African legend.”
South Africa midfielder Thibang Phete
“Watching Themba play is such a privilege. He’s a player that can play in between the lines in this new modern way of playing football. Everyone knows when they watch him play that he will do something different. What an unbelievable player he is because he’s still winning titles.”
Former Mamelodi Sundowns and South Africa player Hlompho Kekana
“He’s the best player I have played with in my career. The way he moves on the field, the way he passes the ball, the way he moves… Everything is just smooth, you know?”
South Africa midfielder Luke Le Roux
