Kaizer Chiefs v AmaZulu FC

2 October, FNB Stadium, 15h30

Usuthu: ‘7-3’ or ‘8-2’ formation?

This season, for the most part, AmaZulu FC mentor Brandon Truter has used a 4-3-3 formation. He used the same system at Swallows FC but in a completely different way. Rhulani Mokwena summed it up prior to the teams playing each other earlier this season, saying, “It’s a little bit different to Swallows. AmaZulu, as compared to Swallows when he was there with inverted full-backs, has a little bit more aggression with wide and high fullbacks, especially (Riaan) Hanamub on the left and (Thembela) Sikhakhane on the right.” In prior seasons, Truter would ask his fullbacks to move into midfield next to the ‘number six’. This freed up the other two midfielders to play high up between the lines, which suited the likes of Lebohang Mokoena and Kamohelo Mahlatsi. High and wide wingers were used to provide the width with a single striker, often a false nine like Ruzaigh Gamildien. Truter’s Usuthu team this season are very different. They use a 4-3-3 with the fullbacks getting forward a lot to provide the width. The midfield three are all quite defensive players who don’t get to get forward much in Keagan Buchanan, Makhehlene Makhaula and George Maluleka. Truter then uses a narrow front three who camp in the opposition half and don’t really bother with defensive duties. Gabadinho Mhango, Bongi Ntuli and Augustine Kwem have most often been the trio selected. The coach himself has admitted that his team defend with a block of seven players, with three forwards waiting for counterattacks. This leads to something of a ‘broken’ team without a number 10 to connect the units. Against Sundowns recently, Truter actually dropped one of his forwards and brought in an extra defender, meaning his side were basically defending with a back eight, with Mhango and Dumisani Zuma as a front two! In essence, Truter parked the bus and nearly got a 0-0 draw. Against Kaizer Chiefs, it will be interesting to see how much respect he shows them and what line-up we see. Abbubaker Mobara was superb when the two teams met earlier this season in the league (with a massive 12 interceptions!), but he has been sidelined since then with injury. Kwem is missing through suspension after his red card in the Chippa United loss.

All day long battles Catch me if you can: Hanamub vs Du Preez

Considering Truter’s reliance on his fullbacks this season, the battle down the flanks will be a key factor in the first leg. When Chippa recently beat the Durban-based side, their technical team member Morgan Mammila explained how he had focused on the opposition’s fullbacks, revealing, “I saw AmaZulu are relying on Thembela Sikhakhane to go forward, they are relying a lot on Riaan Hanamub. So Azola Matrose, I said to him, stay top there with Sikhakhane so that he cannot move forward. Thabiso Lebitso, stay there with Hanamub.” The Namibian was brilliant last season for the Chilli Boys and has been very good this term, dominating his flank at times. Even the signing of Sibusiso Mabiliso hasn’t seen Hanamub come under any real pressure for his place, such is his form. When facing an attacking left back, he can either track the opposition deep into their own half or stay high up and get the fullback pinned back. In Ashley Du Preez, Amakhosi had the perfect man for the latter job. Against SuperSport United, he burst into the space behind Onismor Bhasera to set up the match-winning penalty. Assuming he plays down the right wing with Kgaogelo Sekgota on the left, Du Preez’s blistering pace will be a big weapon when Hanamub bombs forward. The former Stellenbosch FC man has just made his Bafana Bafana debut and will be high on confidence.

No breathing space: Maluleka vs Maart

In the engine room, Arthur Zwane is still trying to find the perfect balance. Yusuf Maart tends to play when he is fit and is the team’s key passer in that area. Siyethemba Sithebe is also usually selected, whilst the third player has changed constantly. AmaZulu are very settled in this area with off-season signing Maluleka playing on the right of the trio. In many ways, Maart is like a long-awaited replacement at Chiefs for Mido. He brings the passing range for switches of play and longer through passes whilst also being able to dictate the tempo from a deeper role or as a number eight. Truter seems certain to ask Maluleka to push up onto Maart to stop him having time and space to hit runners like Sekgota and Du Preez down the flanks. When these teams met in early September, Maart made a team-high 55 passes for Chiefs, at least 20 more than any other teammate. He was also hugely influential defensively with four tackles won, two interceptions and picking up 10 ‘free balls’. Maluleka, meanwhile, had less than half the number of passes of Maart (27) and will have to assert himself a lot more in this match if AmaZulu are to play on the front foot.

This is Zwane’s test Justice Sikhalazo – Chiefs supporter

“This is not going to be an easy game at all. When you check, AmaZulu are enjoying a good run of form, while we are still finding our feet, so it is not going to be an easy game at all. They have a strong team with the likes of Gabadinho Mhango, who is looking to prove a point. There’s also our former player, George Maluleka, who will be going out to prove a point as well. On our side, we have new players and we will be looking at Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana to continue with his scoring streak after his brace against SuperSport United. It is not going to be easy for Arthur Zwane and this (MTN8) is his test and if he fails it, there will be a problem. He has to win this trophy to prove himself and this is his test. AmaZulu have no pressure, the pressure is on Zwane.”

I’m just worried about our team Mfundisi Sigcino – AmaZulu FC supporter

“I believe we are going to the final because we are a completely different team to the teams we’ve had in recent years. This is a team you can trust. From top management all the way to the players, everything is in place and we only have few things to sort out. When you look at Amakhosi, there’s huge pressure on the bench and even the players. They come under a lot of pressure and coach (Arthur) Zwane is still experimenting, while we have a stable side. We have enough quality and depth, which is credit to our chairman and his leadership. I think we will win this two-legged game at FNB and come play a draw here at home. I’m just worried about our team because we seem to lose games we should be winning with ease. Those that seem tough, we win them easily and I hope the players will not read too much into Chiefs’ problems as that can be dangerous.”