AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane says it is important for his side to keep challenging for a place in African club competition next season over the next weeks of league and cup competition.
Fifth placed AmaZulu are in the race for a place in the top three of the Betway Premiership that offers a berth in next season’s continental coemption, as well as still in the Nedbank Cup where they have reached the quarterfinal stage.
The cup winner qualifies for the African Confederation Cup.
“It's very, very key for our players, for their personal growth, and for the club also to participate in Africa,” said Zwane after his team lost 1-0 away at Stellenbosch on Friday to remain fifth in the standings, eight points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
“And that's what we're looking for. And hopefully, right now we have two birds to kill with one stone, so hopefully we get one of the two, if not both. That would be that would be good for the team.”
The top two teams in the Premiership at the end of the season qualify for the African Champions League and the third placed team for the Confederation Cup.
“It's important for us, because we're going have a chance to test ourselves against the big boys, to see if we can survive or we can be able to cope with the demands of playing, and travelling all over Africa,” added Zwane.
AmaZulu previously competed in the Champions League in the 2021-22 season where they reached the group stage under coach Benni McCarthy.