Finding a replacement for Bafana Bafana playmaker Themba Zwane will be easier said than done.

At 36, age is catching up with Zwane, who has played 51 games for South Africa’s senior national team since his debut in 2014.

African Times reported recently that Zwane is sidelined for two months with a thigh injury, on the back of an Achilles tendon injury that kept him out for the better part of last season.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos had picked Patrick Maswanganyi from Orlando Pirates for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho (5 September) and Nigeria (9 September) – both in Bloemfontein, but “Tito” is also out with an injury, forcing a change and bringing in Maswanganyi’s club mate, Sipho Mbule.

The 27-year-old Mbule is yet to establish himself as a regular at Pirates, and with four Bafana Bafana caps to his name—the last one coming in 2021—he may be far from being Zwane’s replacement, but Broos has faith.

“For more than a year, we have been looking for a replacement for Themba (Zwane),” the Bafana Bafana head coach told reporters on Monday, when the team assembled for camp.

“We had Tito (Maswanganyi), but now Tito is also injured, so it was very difficult to find someone with those qualities. And I think with Mbule, we have the right player in the right position.

“But I have to tell you also that when he comes, and he will be in training, I think that I will have a little chat with him, and I will tell him exactly what we expect from him.”

The Bethlehem-born Free State midfielder made his senior national team debut against Botswana in July 2017 during the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers.

Nicknamed the Master Chef, Mbule would be keen to justify Broos’ call as Bafana Bafana look to qualify for the global showpiece.

“I’m happy to be back in the national team. As you all know it’s been a while without wearing national team colours. I’m glad to have worked my way back to the national team now it’s for me to work again to stay here,” added Mbule.