Mamelodi Sundowns seek magic from Themba Zwane in CAF Champions League semi-final

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS are going to need a bit of magic to overcome Al Ahly in their CAF Champions League semi-final second leg clash in Cairo on Friday night. Tied at 0-0 after the first leg, the continental giants are evenly-poised as to their chances of reaching the final.

As they look to add a second star above their club’s crest, the South African champions can do with some magical spark to overcome a Red Devils outfit seeking to rule the continent an unprecedented third successive time. 

And who better to provide it than the man who has been their talisman in the last few years when they’ve dominated domestic football and competed admirably in Africa.

Themba Zwane is nowhere near the player he used to be before he tore his Achilles' heel while playing for Bafana Bafana, but for a brief moment at Loftus Versfeld last weekend Mshishi turned on the magic.

It might not have resulted in the goal that would have seen Sundowns walking on to the Cairo International Stadium pitch holding all the aces, but it sparked some hope alright.

A few of those deft moves that saw him carving the stubborn Ahly defence and one could possibly lead to Sundowns scoring that glorious away goal to ensure the Red Devils have to score at least twice.

Granted, after seven months out of action, it is too much to ask of Mshishi to be the match-winner. You saw that he still needed time to fully get back into it when he failed to reach a through ball delivered for him into the box shortly after he’d delighted the crowd with that earlier move.

Yet such is his talent, such is his football brain, such is his experience at this highest of levels that a half-fit Zwane has what it takes to turn the game on its head.

The Egyptians are unlikely to expect much of him given how long he has been out and coach Miguel Carodso can well use him as a trump card should the likes of Lucas Ribeiro and Peter Shalulile not deliver as Masandawana no doubt hope them to.

A Champions League winner with Sundowns back in 2016, Mshishi is in the twilight of his illustrious career but just about everyone would love to see him bring the curtain down with a flurry.

Sundowns have already extended his contract and there is a clamour for him to go strut his stuff at the FIFA Club World Cup in two months’ time.

Nationally, Bafana fans are envisaging that he will be fit enough to play a key role in helping the squad secure their spot at the FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States of America.

With a spot at the Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in November sealed, expectations are that Mshishi will once again be influential as South Africa seeks to be crowned African champions for a second time.

The immediate focus though is on Sundowns’ second leg, semi-final clash at Ahly on Friday, and with the tie so delicately poised wouldn’t it be grand if the man with the delicate skills could be the one who takes the Brazilians to the ultimate stage - even if he does that via a cameo appearance.

After all, that is how Cardoso is sure to use him until he is fully fit – sparingly. But such is his immense ability to influence matches that even at 35 percent of his capacity, Mshishi can turn on the magic and be a match-winner.