AmaZulu FC will be looking to make it back-to-back victories in the Betway Premiership when they host wounded Stellenbosch FC at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Thursday.
Kick-off is at 7:30pm CAT.
CURRENT FORM
Usuthu snapped a two-match winless run in the league when they claimed a 1-0 victory over Magesi FC away on 11 January and they had registered a draw, and a defeat before facing Dikwena Tsa Meetse.
AmaZulu are occupying the ninth spot in the Betway Premiership standings - three points behind seventh-placed Golden Arrows, and a victory over Stellenbosch would see the KZN giants climb up into the top eight.
Meanwhile, Stellenbosch were hammered 5-0 by RS Berkane in the CAF Confederation Cup away on 19 January and they are also winless in their last three matches in the Betway Premiership.
Stellies are sitting on the eighth spot in the league standings - three points behind seventh-placed Arrows, but Stellenbosch have two games in hand. A win over AmaZulu would elevate Stellies into the top half of the table.
TEAM NEWS
AmaZulu have no suspension concerns, but they could be without Augustine Mulenga, who has been sidelined by a long-term injury since September 2024.
Stellenbosch, on the other hand, also do not have any suspension worries, but Bradley Mojela will be missing due to a season-ending injury.
WHAT WAS SAID?
AmaZulu FC co-head coach Arthur Zwane
“AmaZulu are a big team and they don't deserve to be at the bottom, fighting for survival. The team should be competing for positions one and two, but we are a work in progress. We belong with the best and there's a lot to expect from this group of players,'' Zwane said.
"We are so proud of the guys for coming here [in Polokwane] and getting a positive result [against Magesi]; they gave their all. You could see in the last 20 minutes that they were pushing themselves. However, they showed that mentally they are strong and demonstrated a lot of character.”
Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker
“It is not easy to accept a 5-0 loss but I told the team and the players that these types of games are a learning curve... We have a very important game in the league on Thursday [against AmaZulu] and a cup competition [against Kruger United] back home," Barker said.
"So, you know, we played a lot of our players that haven’t been playing a lot, we had six under-23 on the field. It was an opportunity for them to play and I’m sure they’ve learned a lot from it, but we can see the quality of Berkane especially when we gave the ball away in our own defensive third, they are very clinical.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bongani Zungu, AmaZulu FC: The veteran midfielder will be keen to play a key role in helping Usuthu overcome Stellenbosch having grabbed the winning goal against Magesi and he was named Man of the Match.
Fawaaz Basadien, Stellenbosch FC: The influential left-back will be determined to inspire Stellies to a victory over AmaZulu having scored and provided an assist in the win against Stade Malien on 12 January.