Usuthu can complete a double over Citizens

AMAZULU will not be resting on their laurels after beating Cape Town City to advance to the Telkom Knockout quarterfinals.

Usuthu progressed to the last eight of the elite league competition after beating the Citizens 2-0 thanks to goals by Emiliano Tade and Bongi Ntuli at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on Tuesday night.

As if their clash was not enough, the two teams will meet again on Saturday at Cape Town Stadium in an Absa Premiership tie (8.15pm).

The Durban-based outfit are currently bottom of the 16-team table with three points after eight games, Usuthu having been docked six points for failing to comply with a Fifa ruling, involving the termination of the contract of Namibian player Phinheas Nambandi in 2014

AmaZulu coach Cavin Johnson, stressed they can’t afford to be on honeymoon: “That has started already (players have switched off from the victory against City) and you can see the players in the dressing room. They are not over excited. Saturday is so important for us because of the position we are currently on.”

Usuthu have struggled away from home this season and they need to fix that as soon as possible if they are to climb the table. They are winless on the road and have suffered defeats to SuperSport United, Bidvest Wits and Kaizer Chiefs.

“We will go to Cape Town knowing that we will play a team that probably has about three players coming back,” Johnson explained. “I don’t think Benni (McCarthy, the Cape Town City coach) will take the same chance again (play a second string team). Yes, he had to do it because some of his players were suspended but they are back for Saturday. We got to think a little bit deeper and come up with another plan and hopefully we will able to come up with something in the pocket,” he added.

City are also struggling in the league. They have only registered one victory so far this season. That win came way back in August in their opening fixture. Since then City have endured some difficult times in the league. They are 14th on the log and only four points separates them from Saturday’s opponents.

Usuthu’s new recruit, Tade, is slowly find his feet in South African football and Johnson is expecting more from his talisman.

“You don’t score 50 goals for nothing. Yes, the leagues are different. He was playing in a much lesser physical league (New Zealand) than the PSL but when you have the finesse and calmness, it doesn’t matter what league you are playing in. You can find the back of the net. That’s what we brought in Emiliano here for because he has that. He is able to see quicker than a lot of other players. Hopefully, he gets more chances. He has got the finesse to find the back of the net.”

Tade has scored three goals in seven matches so far this season across all the competitions.