Amazulu’s Truter ready to flex squad depth in clash against struggling Chippa
AMAZULU will welcome a Chippa United side in disarray at the bottom of the log looking to begin their recovery under new leadership when the two sides meet at the Moses Mabhida Stadium today at 3pm.
The opening period of the Dstv premiership has proven heavy on the bodies and numbers of a lot of teams throughout the league as unfamiliar fixture congestion begins to take its toll.
The Kwazulu-natal-based club is one of a few sides blessed with an abundance of talent following their mass recruitment processes before the beginning of the 2022/2023 campaign.
Usuthu head coach Brandon Truter will be forced to make a huge adjustment as he has to contend with the unavailability of two of his trusted men, Gabadinho Mhango and Abubeker Mobara, for their clash against the Chilli Boys.
Truter is, however, confident that he has the requisite backup on the bench and feels whoever he calls on will be able to deliver on match day.
“Gaba (Mhango) has been massive for us and we’re gonna miss him but at the same time I have Dumisani Zuma, I have (Lehlohonolo) Majoro that can come in and do the business,” he said.
“There’s quality and there’s depth upfront for us and not forgetting the youth as well, who might get an opportunity to pick their hands up and force themselves into the team.”
Usuthu will line up against a Chippa side without recently departed coach Daine Klate in their dugout, with Morgan Mammila taking over as caretaker coach for the time being.
The Gqebera-based Chippa, or Chilli Boys, are rooted to the bottom of the league standings and are
still dusting themselves off following defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in midweek, a loss that evidently cost Klate his job.
Truter believes the unpredictable nature of their next opponents makes them a difficult prospect to break down but feels that his side is prepared for whatever they bring.
“Chills is a very difficult team to analyse and we know they’re gonna come here and try to win at all costs following their defeat to Sundowns,” said Truter.
“We know what to expect from Chippa. They’re a team that likes to come very directly and they’ve been punishing teams with second balls and set-plays so we know what to expect, but we need to get our mentality right because if we go into it the same way we did against Arrows, thinking we’re gonna win that, we might have a problem.”