Amazulu targeting two wins in a row
AFTER a decent start to the season, Amazulu will be looking to make it two wins on the trot when they host Cape Town City at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban tomorrow night.
Usuthu head into the game on the back of a morale-boosting and hard-fought 2-1 win over Supersport United. They began their league campaign with a dull 0-0 draw against TS Galaxy in Johannesburg.
Club chairman Sandile Zungu has challenged coach Brandon Truter to deliver one trophy this season. The Durban club’s trophy drought has extended to 30 years as they have not claimed a piece of silverware since claiming the Coca-cola Cup in 1992.
Though not the most decorated coach in South African football, Amazulu tactician Truter is up to the challenge and feels that he has sufficient resources at his disposal to land a trophy.
“The expectation from the board is that they would like us to win a trophy and also earn a top four finish. When I look at the mood within the squad, it indicates that we can go out and win. We are a good team. We play good football and still need to improve mentally. We have a desire and belief that we can win. I don’t want to start the season with the ambition of a top four or eight finish,” said Truter.
If one thing is certain, Amazulu showed mental strength in the win over Supersport United. They had some luck as Gavin Hunt’s team were guilty of missing two good opportunities.
However, the Durban side did not give up after they conceded. Instead, they experienced an injection of energy once Gabadinho Mhango and Bongi Ntuli were introduced off the bench, eventually going on to win the game with the duo scoring a goal apiece.
“Once we went down and conceded, we changed things and the formation. The front three that finished the game (Chidi Kwem, Mhango and Ntuli) are fighters and made it difficult for their defenders.
“We also changed the formation to deal with their direct play and crosses. That is why we brought on a tall centre-back like Veluyeke Zulu because he could make things difficult for them. We managed to sneak a victory at the end. Our guys showed plenty of fight. I can’t fault anyone. It was a tough ask to come back after conceding against a Hunt team,” said Truter.
Amazulu can also exploit the Cape Town City side’s desperation to get their season on track. Last season’s league runners-up have made a slow start to the season as they have lost both of their league games thus far against Mamelodi Sundowns and Swallows.
While City do not need to feel humiliated by their defeat to Downs, they will be frustrated about dropping points against Swallows, given that Dylan Kerr’s side battled relegation last season and are not one of the more resourced sides in the South African top flight.