Snl24 | Mshishi: Barker Told Me To Go To Pirates Or Chiefs

POLOKWANE, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 04: Themba Zwane of Mamelodi Sundowns during the DStv Premiership match between Sekhukhune United and Mamelodi Sundowns at Peter Mokaba Stadium on August 04, 2023 in Polokwane, South Africa. (Photo by Philip Maeta/Gallo Images)

Current Mamelodi Sundowns captain Themba Zwane was urged to join either Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates by the late Clive Barker under whom he spent a season on loan at Mpumalanga Black Aces.

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It is no secret that Barker played a massive role in grooming the young Themba Zwane.

At the time, Zwane had just burst onto the professional scene after he was signed from Vodacom League (now ABC Motsepe League) side Vardos FC.

With Sundowns’ rafters packed with talent, the midfielder was sent out on loan to Mpumalanga Black Aces, where he would cross paths with the man known as, ‘The Dog’.

Zwane endeared himself to the 1996 AFCON winner, who quickly drew comparisons between Zwane and the legendary Doctor Khumalo, to a point where he eventually started referring to him as ‘Doc’ after the Kaizer Chiefs legend.

“He was putting me under pressure [by calling me Doctor]. Even at training he would call me ‘Doc’. He’s the guy that gave me confidence because he believed in me and he pushed me,” he told Sundowns’ Pitchside Podcast.

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Zwane would go on to share how Barker urged him to join either Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates in the event that Sundowns were not keen on retaining his services.

“He even told me before the season finished that side, he said to me, ‘I don’t want to see you here [at Aces] next season. He said, if Sundowns don’t want you, you should go to Pirates or Chiefs.

“I told him that I am going back home [to Sundowns],” he explained.

Having won 16 trophies since his return to Mamelodi Sundowns, it’s safe to say Zwane’s choice was justified.

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