Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has appeared to put pressure on Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi after Hugo Broos touted him as a potential replacement for Themba Zwane.
Broos, the man in charge of Bafana Bafana, has been vocal about the need to have Zwane's successor in the national team.
After trying out players like Mduduzi Mdantsane of Kaizer Chiefs, the Belgian has now turned his focus to Maswanganyi after he called him up for the first time in the squad that will do duty in the FIFA Series against Andorra and Algeria.
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"He (Maswanganyi) played a very good game (in the Soweto Derby). This is what I want to see from him in Bafana Bafana. Can he achieve that level also with us? He can be someone for the future, he can replace Themba Zwane for the future," Broos said on the inclusion of Maswanganyi in his latest squad.
However, Mokwena, speaking to journalists in a Nedbank Cup Last 16 pre-match press conference, believes Zwane is a "generational talent" and it could take 10 to 15 years before another player like him emerges.
"Dr. Jomo Sono always says to me, 'You can't replace Themba Zwane'. He's a generational talent and a good person. You saw when we took him off (against SuperSport United), he doesn't whinge, he doesn't whine," Mokwena told reporters ahead of their clash against Maritzburg United.
"Sometimes you get these with players who are at a certain level. Themba Zwane comes running off the pitch, he's not dragging his feet and that, for me, it's already an indication of how great he is, when you even undermine your greatness. 'Mshishi' has that. He doesn't even know how good he really is.
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"These types of players are very difficult (to replace). It will be another 10, 15 years until you find someone that will play and maybe surpass Mshishi's level. So, I'm not even going to attempt to replace Mshishi, it's impossible," he added.
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