AmaZulu FC will renew their rivalry with their KwaZulu-Natal rivals Lamontville Golden Arrows at the Princess Magogo Stadium in a DStv Premiership match on Wednesday.
Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).
Usuthu are probably the most in form team in the local top flight at the moment having won three successive matches with their most recent win coming against Swallows FC as they emerged as 3-2 winners away on Friday.
The KwaZulu-Natal giants are sitting at the top of the DStv Premiership standings with 10 points from four matches and they will be seeking revenge against Arrows as Abafana Bes'thende are the last team to defeat them in the league.
Brandon Truter, the AmaZulu head coach, pointed out that their win over Swallows didn't come easy and he also indicated that they need to improve defensively ahead of their clash with Abafana Bes'thende.
“It wasn’t easy out there at all, at times our emotions got the better of us, we needed to stay calm and one or two decisions also maybe provoked us a bit," Truter said.
"But, from my side and the overall outlook of the game, we need to go back and look at the goals we conceded.”
Meanwhile, Arrows' struggles in the DStv Premiership continued when they extended their winless run to four matches in the current season with a 0-0 draw against TS Galaxy at home over the weekend.
Abafana Bes'thende find themselves placed 15th on the league standings with two points from four matches and they will be hoping to claim their first victory of the season against Usuthu.
Vusumuzi Vilakazi, the Arrows co-head coach, explained that his side is a work in progress following their draw against Galaxy and he feels that they are close to recording a win.
“It is still a work in progress in terms of our finishing. We will get it right. We are sitting on two points now and we are playing against AmaZulu," Vilakazi said.
"If we win, we will have five points. That’s what is important. While we say it is a work in progress, let’s not lose games and try to get that point or three. That’s what is important.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
AmaZulu
Mbongeni Gumede: The former Orlando Pirates defender was influential in the game against Swallows - scoring an own goal before netting the winning goal. Gumede will be keen to play an instrumental role in helping his side secure another win when they face Arrows.
Frank Mhango: The dangerous forward has now scored in three consecutive matches in the league - making him one of the most in-form players in the competition. Mhango will be determined to haunt his former club having played for Abafana Bes'thende in 2016.
Golden Arrows
Nduduzo Sibiya: The skillful attacking midfielder was the reason why Arrows defeated AmaZulu in their last meeting as he grabbed a goal and assist in a 2-1 win towards the end of the ?2021-22? term. Sibiya will be confident of replicating his exploits when he faces AmaZulu.
Velemseni Ndwandwe: The hard-working attacking midfielder was also on the score sheet against AmaZulu and he can also be deployed as a striker by the current Arrows technical team. Ndwandwe has scored once this term and he will be eager to add to his tally against Usuthu.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS
Season Result Scorers
2017/18 Arrows 4-1 AmaZulu Lamola, Magubane, Mutizwa, Mahachi; Ouro-Akoriko
2017/18 AmaZulu 2-1 Arrows Sithebe 2; Mutizwa
2018/19 AmaZulu 2-0 Arrows Ntuli 2 (1 pen)
2018/19 Arrows 1-1 AmaZulu Lunga; Ouro-Akoriko
2019/20 Arrows 1-1 AmaZulu Sibiya (pen); Ntuli (pen)
2019/20 AmaZulu 1-2 Arrows Sithebe; Mutizwa 2 (1 pen)
2020/21 AmaZulu 0-2 Arrows Sibiya (pen), Ndwandwe
2020/21 Arrows 0-1 AmaZulu Memela
2021/22 Arrows 2-2 AmaZulu Mutizwa (pen), Mathiane; Mlambo, Ntuli (pen)
2021/22 AmaZulu 1-2 Arrows Maduna; Ndwandwe, Sibiya (pen)