Derbies are different
On the KZN derby against Golden Arrows
It is very important for AmaZulu to win this game. We need to give our supporters a Christmas gift by winning the derby against Arrows. They are a formidable side and as we all know that derbies are different in the sense that no team backs down – all teams want to win a derby game because it carries a lot of weight. Even for the supporters, it gives them the bragging rights. We also have a record of seven wins, one draw and four losses in this game and we want to extend it to eight wins. Another thing is that we want to protect our home record. We have played seven home games so far and we haven’t lost in all seven. We want to keep it like that. We know it’s not going to be easy, but we are determined to do it. Winning a derby means you are the kings of the city because you have the bragging rights!
On where Arrows poses a threat
We started working on how we can beat Arrows since Tuesday because we had a break on Monday following our long trip from Thohoyandou where we played Black Leopards. The analysis team has brought their analysis of how Arrows play and we are working on that now. We know that they rely mainly on pace. They also have very good wing players who have skill and pace. They have a striker like Lerato Lamola, who is very pacey and tricky. We have all that information and we are working on a plan to close them down. I think the best way to minimise the danger that their pace could pose would be for us to cut the supply. We have to make sure that their wing play is not effective and we are capable of doing that. We are playing in Durban and it is hot these days, so the game being at 15h30 will be a bit of a challenge for them with their pacey game. They cannot run for the entire 90 minutes. They will surely get tired before the end of the game. All we have to do is to manage the game well, and then we should be able to get what we want out of it.
On going to the derby on the back of a loss
Form and everything else don’t really matter on the day of the derby. It all boils down to who wants it more on the day and we are playing at home, so we also have our home record to protect. We lost against Black Leopards, but if they will write us off because of that, then they are in big trouble. We are ready for the derby. The loss to Leopards is a thing of the past. We are playing at home and we can’t disappoint our supporters at home.
On both teams’ positions on the log
We are happy with our log position, especially if you consider what we had to go through earlier this season. We were docked points and it took us to the bottom of the log. We managed to get away from that and climbed up the table. That was a very tough situation that we found ourselves in and we told ourselves that we will not give up the fight. We did not surrender but rather kept pushing and fighting. The most important thing though is that whatever happens on Saturday, our aim is to make our supporters happy, so that means we will have to fight for it and show character. We are currently sitting in position 11 and they are in 10th position, with only three points difference, so winning this game will mean that we overtake them on goal difference. There are a lot of motivating factors for us to win this derby.
On what could win AmaZulu the derby
This is the game that doesn’t need much of talent but rather commitment from the players that will take to the field on the day. You know, in games like this one, tal- ent only plays 20 percent – the rest is determination and commitment. That is what will see us through this one. We have proven that we can compete against whomever we come up against this season, especially at home, because our home record has been phenomenal. We aim to keep it like that until the end of the season.
On the role played by senior players in the AmaZulu team
Our senior players like Siyabonga Nomvethe, Ovidy Karuru and Mabhudi Khenyeza are playing a massive role in motivating us before big games like the derby. We as young players at AmaZulu are very fortunate because in every department we have senior players who have done it all. In the goalkeeping department, we have the likes of Moeneeb Josephs and Energy Murambadoro. It is now up to us as young players to take the initiative in the game because these guys have already prepared us and have given us an idea of what to expect. It really helps having them in the team because they are able to help coach Cavin Johnson as well in terms of dishing out instructions to the players on the field rather than waiting for halftime when we go to the change room.
On tactics in the derby
Even tactics will work up to a certain point. It all depends on how badly you want it at the end of the day. We just have to follow the coach’s instructions. In all the games that we followed the coach’s instructions, we got the maximum points. We just need to do that on Saturday and everything will fall into place. That is just how different the derby is from any other game. Every player from both camps is motivated to play in the derby. The coaches have a different headache for this one because every player is lifting his hand to play in the derby instead of thinking about the shortage of players available.
On where AmaZulu can win the game
We have the likes of Emiliano Tade and Ovidy Karuru on song at the moment and having them gives us confidence to do well. These guys are potential match winners and if they show up on Saturday, then we will win the game. All they will need is support from us and should we master that, we will cruise past Arrows. On Tade being the main man for Usuthu
Tade has been by far the best signing in the league this season. We will rely more on his exploits to win us the game on Saturday. He has been our trump card this season, scoring goals and bagging assists for the club. He is a very talented striker and he will cause havoc in this league. He is in his first season in a foreign country ,yet he performs like he has been playing here all this time. He is a workaholic and we will bank on him to make things happen for us on Saturday. Siyabonga Mbatha, AmaZulu goalkeeper