Arthur Zwane could soon have a new role in the Bafana Bafana setup — and a move that would reunite him with Pitso Mosimane could also be significant for Kaizer Chiefs.
Reports suggest that new Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane is considering bringing Zwane into his technical team as a second assistant.
Mosimane was appointed as South Africa’s head coach last month, ending weeks of uncertainty over who would take charge of the national team.
The South African Football Association has already confirmed that Botswana coach Morena Ramoreboli will join Mosimane’s staff as an assistant. Musi Matlaba and Kabelo Rangoaga are also expected to form part of the new-look technical team.
But the possible addition of Zwane could be particularly interesting for Chiefs supporters.
Why Mosimane wants Zwane
Mosimane is believed to have held Zwane’s coaching ability in high regard for several years.
The pair’s paths crossed during the 2021 CAF Champions League, when Mosimane’s Al Ahly defeated Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 in the final.
Zwane had played an important role in Chiefs’ impressive run to the final, including their memorable semi-final victory over Wydad Casablanca.
Mosimane reportedly believed Chiefs could have been more competitive in the final had Zwane remained in charge rather than Stuart Baxter taking over for the decisive match.
Now, several years later, Mosimane could have the opportunity to work directly with Zwane at international level.
How Chiefs could benefit
For Kaizer Chiefs, Zwane’s potential Bafana appointment could have an important knock-on effect.
The former Amakhosi midfielder spent almost two decades at Naturena, first as a player and later as a coach. That experience means he knows the club’s culture, development system and emerging talent extremely well.
That could become valuable when the Bafana technical team assesses players for international selection.
Zwane has previously worked with several promising Chiefs youngsters, including Mfundo Vilakazi, Wandile Duba and Mduduzi Shabalala.
If those players continue developing and impressing at club level, having someone within the national-team setup who already understands their abilities could potentially help put them on Mosimane’s radar.
Of course, selection will ultimately depend on performances and whether the players meet Bafana’s requirements. But Zwane’s presence could give Chiefs’ youngsters an experienced voice inside the national setup.
When will Mosimane name his first squad?
Mosimane is expected to announce his first Bafana Bafana squad next week as South Africa begins preparations for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers.
The biggest question now is whether Zwane will officially become part of his backroom team — and, if he does, which Chiefs players could benefit from his knowledge of the Amakhosi setup.
Could Arthur Zwane become the link between Kaizer Chiefs’ emerging stars and the Bafana Bafana setup?
