Pitso likens Zwane to Iniesta

A packed to the rafters crowd clad in yellow at the Lucas Moripe Stadium relentlessly chanted “iyooh-yooh Themba Zwane” as the player was outstanding in Mamelodi Sundowns’ historical 5-0 win over Egyptian football gods Al-Ahly in the first-leg of the Caf Champions League quarterfinals.

Zwane opened the scoring for Masandawana before Wayne Arendse, Ricardo Nascimento, Gaston Sirino and former Ahly player Phakamani Mahlambi joined in on the party.

READ: Pitso calls for ‘humility and respect’ after thrashing Al Ahly

Zwane, otherwise known as “Mshishi” was so outstanding against Al Ahly that his coach Pitso Mosimane likened him to Barcelona and Spain legend Andres Iniesta.

“Themba Zwane was unbelievable, he was brilliant, they couldn’t trace him. He is always in different spaces and we controlled the midfield,” said Mosimane.

“Mshishi was skating, they couldn’t find him, he reminds me of Andres Iniesta, and you need to allow him to play the way he did. If you won’t allow him to play the winger position the way he does, you are going to kill him because he is not going to go down the line and cross the ball.”

He added: “I have to accommodate a player like this. We find a plan and we tilt the system to make him dance and to allow Gaston to dance. Tiyani Mabunda and Hlompho Kekana are the ones who carry the piano for them (Zwane and Sirino) to shine and gloat.”

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