AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane demands more mental steel from his young side
FOOTBALL
Kaizer Chiefs player Glody Lilepo challenges for the ball against Amazulu FC mdfielder Mlondi Mbanjwa,during the Betway Premiership League at the FNB stadium in Soweto. Picture: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
AmaZulu FC coach Arthur Zwane has called on his youthful squad to develop greater mental strength as they prepare for their next challenge against defending champions Magesi FC.
Usuthu secured a valuable point in their midweek league clash against Kaizer Chiefs, playing to a 1-1 draw at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday. An early strike from Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya gave the KwaZulu-Natal outfit the lead, but Mduduzi Shabalala equalised shortly after to ensure the points were shared.
AmaZulu now sit on 12 points after eight matches, just one behind neighbours Golden Arrows, over whom they hold a game in hand. Their attention now shifts to the Carling Knockout round of 16, where they face Dikwena tsa Meetse at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, with kick-off set for 6pm.
The KZN side will be looking to improve their record in this competition after bowing out at the same stage last season following a 2-1 defeat to 2023 champions Stellenbosch FC.
Zwane stressed that his team must become mentally tougher, particularly when it comes to protecting leads, something that has cost them points in recent matches.
“It’s more mental,” Zwane said about conceding goals after taking the lead.
“We need time because some of the players we only started working with them this season. For example Ngwenya—you look at the tempo of the PSL and the tempo of where he comes from in Zimbabwe, that alone tells you the demands and the pressure this side, and he is only 22 years old.
“There are guys that we are relying on heavily because they are experienced, but sometimes they are bound to crack. So it’s true that we score first and we allow the oppositions to come back. Including this game, it is the fourth time we have scored first and we conceded.”
The former Chiefs coach added that he hopes his players will quickly learn from these mistakes.
“The points lost are costly if you count them, but it comes with a young squad that is inexperienced. They will make costly mistakes, but I hope that they will learn and also learn very fast because we can’t afford to continue dropping points like this.
“We have dropped six points that could have been in the bag, and we could be in a better position now.”
Despite the setbacks, it hasn’t been a poor start for Usuthu, who remain just three points behind fourth-placed neighbours Durban City. City will take on Polokwane City on Friday (7pm kickoff) in the Carling Knockout at the Chatsworth Stadium as they look to continue their impressive form.
Elsewhere, Arrows will be out to settle a score when they meet Sekhukhune United at the King Zwelithini Stadium (6pm kickoff). A late Bradley Grobler strike gave Babina Noko a narrow 1-0 win in their last league meeting, but Arrows have since found strong form with notable wins over Mamelodi Sundowns (1-0) and Orbit College (3-0). Coach Manqoba Mngqithi will hope to maintain that momentum against a Sekhukhune side coming off a 1-0 derby defeat to Polokwane City.
Meanwhile, Richards Bay FC will host Chippa United at the Richards Bay Stadium on Sunday in what promises to be a tightly contested battle, with little separating the two sides.