AmaZulu stick to their guns despite poor refereeing
AMAZULU will continue adopting the same strong mentality going forward despite results, aided by poor refereeing decisions, not going their way.
Usuthu lost back-to-back matches to Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup and Premiership in the space of a week.
However, they were robbed in both matches. They conceded a dubious penalty in the cup game and a wrongful red card in the league.
Those results stung Usuthu as they were booted out of the cup and remained in the bottom half of the Premiership standings in 13th place.
Coach Pablo Franco said the club had written to the Premier Soccer League to have Abbubaker Mobara's red card rescinded as replays showed that he didn't hack Patrick Maswanganyi of Pirates.
But while Usuthu wait on the PSL to respond to their appeal, they've been hard at work this week preparing for their league game against Chippa United today (3pm).
Midfielder Ethan Brooks, who's been one of key players for Franco, said they know the threat Chippa pose, but they'll use the mentality from the last two games.
“It was hard on us (to lose against Pirates), but we showed resilience in both games, so I feel like everyone knows where we are mentally,” Brooks said.
“We have to just stick to what we did last week, and push (for a result) in the game against Chippa here at home.”
Brooks is right for wanting to continue with their mentality. Had it not been for the dubious calls from the official, they probably would have got something out of the two games against the Buccaneers.
Usuthu were smart in their approach in both games, waiting for Pirates to take the game to them before coming out with sizzling counter-attacks.
With Chippa also a ball-playing team, AmaZulu will want to go for the same approach, but get results and hope that refereeing decisions favour them.
After all, it's results that Usuthu need to turn the tide. Already they run the risk of missing out on next season's MTN8 for a second term running if they don't win games.
“It's a very important game this weekend for us, looking at who we are playing. We have prepared really well for that. We want to win,” Brooks said.
“It's important for us to crack into the top eight. It's one of the goals that we want to achieve at the end of the season.”
Coincidentally, Chippa are in eighth spot, having been on a roll lately by winning their last four games in all competitions – three in the league and one in the cup.
What makes this Chippa side a threat is that they've been lethal in attack and solid in defence, winning those four games with 2-0 scorelines.
As such, AmaZulu defender Taariq Fielies knows they'll have their work cut out for them, and pleading with his teammates to continue pushing together as a collective.
“We attack and defend together. It's a team effort. I think we are four points off the top eight. With two consecutive wins, we'll be back there,” Fielies said.