Midfielder Themba Zwane has been been hailed for a dominant performance topped off with a brace as Bafana Bafana secured a draw in a six-goal thriller against Algeria.
South Africa walked away with a 3-3 draw against The Desert Eagles at the Nelson Mandela in Algeria on Tuesday night as Themba Zwane struck twice before Elias Mokwana’s deflected shot went off Iqraam Rayners for a third.
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Meanwhile, Bafana’s goals were canceled out by a Yassine Benzia brace and Yacine Brahim at the opposite end of the pitch to see the match finish level.
Speaking on SABC Sport after the match, former South African women's national U17 coach Dludlu believes Zwane may have been taken off a little too early.
"The importance of playing against an opposition as organized and of high quality as Algeria, when you're bringing new players to see where can you fit in the gaps and close the gaps in areas where we need to improve and all of that, is that you get a true reflection," Dludlu said.
"You can see which players are able to keep up with the standard because when 'Mshishi' (Zwane) comes out here and who you bring in, do they elevate the match or do they regress and go below what Mshishi left in there?
"I think the coach (Broos) needs to look at himself and retrospect and say, 'Did I take out Mshishi too early?'
"Tonight, Mshishi was more on fire than all the other days when we are used to seeing him dominating that midfield. He was moving midfielders out of position. He was moving them out of position, they didn't know how to deal with him.
"He was making it easy for a (Teboho) Mokoena to advance and go forward, he was making it easy for a (Thabang) Monare to say I can go back and defend, be a rest defence, I can join the wingers and all of that.
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"So, in essence I'm saying Mokwana came in and he showed us what he is improving from what he did against Andorra.
"Appollis, you can see that in the first half he was having joy in all of that, now the next step now is for him to be able to take players on and create chances."
The 34-year-old was making his 45th appearance in national team colours and the brace takes him up to 11 goals for Bafana.
The next test for Broos’ troops is a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against old foes Nigeria, to be played in June.
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