'Oswin Appollis and (Relebohile) Mofokeng, I think those (two) are future number 10's at Bafana Bafana,' he added.
As the post-mortem into Bafana Bafana’s last-16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations continues, former national team assistant coach Thabo Senong believes the absence of Themba Zwane had a major impact on the team’s campaign.
Bafana criticised
Bafana were eliminated by Cameroon, with widespread criticism suggesting head coach Hugo Broos lacked a recognised number 10 in his tactical setup. Zwane was unavailable for selection after recovering late from an injury that also ruled him out at Mamelodi Sundowns.
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The veteran midfielder played a key role in South Africa’s bronze-medal finish at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, and his absence in Morocco was keenly felt. Speaking to Thabiso Mosia on Radio 2000, Senong explained why he believes the 1996 champions fell short this time around.
“If we have to go to Bafana Bafana, I must say that the absence of Themba Zwane really affected the team,” he said.
“If you look at the Bafana Bafana that played at the previous AFCON in 2023, they had someone who really understands the (number 10) role in Themba Zwane. They probably missed him but I see new talent that is coming so the future looks good.”
Despite the disappointment, Senong remains optimistic about the future, singling out Orlando Pirates attackers Oswin Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng as potential solutions in the creative role.
“If you look at the technical qualities and tactical abilities of Oswin Appollis and (Relebohile) Mofokeng, I think those (two) are future number 10’s at Bafana Bafana,” he added.
“If they are also integrated and learn from the mentorships of the likes of Themba Zwane. There’s a lot of them that are doing well at their clubs but I think that role is so important. It is still a second striker role that is advanced and still about creating and scoring goals and making a lot of runs behind opposition defenders.”
Senong insights
Now the head coach of Zimbabwean giants Highlanders FC, Senong also offered insight into what the number 10 role entails in modern football.
“We know the number 10 role originated from the traditional 4-4-2 formation where football used to have traditionally two strikers upfront, four midfielders and a back four,” he concluded.
“That is the origin of the number 10 role, and basically that means it’s still a striker in hiding and that is still a second striker. That is someone who spends a lot of time between the midfield line and striker’s line and also spends a lot of time up top as a striker again just to create a numerical balance in attack.
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“It has to be someone who doesn’t like to get deep to make the team play but it has to be someone who makes runs and makes the team penetrate and someone who has to support the main striker and someone who continues scoring goals and assists goals too.”
