Just before the coronavirus pandemic halted PSL action, Usuthu defied the odds, beating Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 at FNB Stadium. They will now hope for a repeat as they continue to fight their way out of the relegation zone.
AMAZULU have good memories of FNB Stadium and, if that counts for anything, they should go to that venue with some confidence ahead of their clash with Bidvest Wits on Friday in their clash that kicks off at 3.30pm.
Just before the coronavirus pandemic halted the Premier Soccer League (PSL) action, Usuthu defied the odds, beating Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 at the same ground. They will now hope for a repeat as they continue to fight their way out of the relegation zone.
AmaZulu are 14th on the log with 24 points from 25 games.
Their victory over Amakhosi would have boosted their confidence and perhaps the Durban club would have been able to build on that positive, but then the season was suspended which interrupted their momentum. So now the question is, can they revive the fighting spirit they showed against the log leaders?
Coach Ayanda Dlamini believes that their last result at FNB will motivate the players.
“It will be a confidence-booster to the players,” Dlamini said. “The last time we were there we got a very good result against Kaizer Chiefs. We will be looking to draw motivation from that game heading into this encounter against Wits. I’m optimistic that will help us focus our minds.”
The former AmaZulu striker is still unbeaten as the head coach of the club, having taken the reins from Josef Vukusic in March. In his debut, he got the better of Amakhosi and last week drew 0-0 against Baroka.
“Wits have been in action for a couple of times already. We’ll be going into our second game (since the season’s restart). The preparation has been going well and the boys are ready. We’ve done our homework on Wits and we will try to improve in every game,” Dlamini stated.
Usuthu faced Baroka without their captain, Siyabonga Mbatha, who was suspended, but now they welcome him back into the line-up.
“It is good that Siyabonga is back. Neil (Boshoff) did very well in his absence. We got a clean sheet. It is possible that we will have Lehlohonolo Majoro back.
“He has been working very hard and hopefully, he will make the team. We hope that his experience will be able to help us.”
Meanwhile, the relegation dogfight is hotting up and Dlamini will know that every point is important in the bottom of the table scramble.
“It is very difficult here at the bottom. For us, it is all about trying to win our games.
“Right now our fate is in our hands, we must win our remaining games,” Dlamini said.
