Although 'Mamelodi Sundowns' has been operating without Themba Zwane for some time, club legend Teko Modise believes that the team needs to address one important question: who will take his place in the future?
Zwane's influence on Sundowns has been declining over the last two seasons due to injuries and workload restrictions, which has affected his participation in matches. Statistics confirm this decline: after scoring 11 goals in 25 matches in the 2019/20 season and 10 goals in 25 games in the following season, his league productivity has steadily dropped.
In the 2021/22 season, he scored seven goals in 25 matches, and in the subsequent season, he scored three goals in 23 games. In 2023/24, he scored four goals in 18 matches. Over the last two seasons, his involvement has become even more limited: in 2024/25, he scored only one goal in seven matches, and last season—another goal in 15 games.
However, Modise emphasizes that these figures reflect only part of the player's story, who during his prime was considered possibly the most influential midfielder in South African football. This is why Modise believes that Sundowns cannot wait until Zwane retires to start searching for a successor.
Speaking on the latest episode of the CarWash Podcast, the former Sundowns midfielder insisted that the club should prepare for this transition while Zwane is still part of the squad. He stated: 'We cannot wait until Themba Zwane retires and then say we need to find a replacement.' He added: 'We need to find a replacement right now; we must be able to play for Mamelodi Sundowns without him and still survive.'
Nevertheless, Modise believes that succession planning does not simply mean replacing senior players with young ones. He is convinced that experienced footballers remain important for helping young players develop, especially in a club with high expectations. Modise noted: 'The team must have senior players who can support and help the young ones develop because that is important when we were young.'
He also stressed the necessity of having such experienced players who understand their role in improving the technical and tactical skills of younger teammates. As Miguel Cardoso continues to transform the Sundowns squad and young players are given more opportunities, the club's next task is to find the right balance between experience and succession. Although Zwane may no longer be the player who led Sundowns through entire seasons, his legacy means that his future successor will have a huge standard to live up to.