Kaizer Chiefs will be keen to redeem themselves with a win over AmaZulu FC in Tuesday's Betway Premiership match at the world-class FNB Stadium in Nasrec. Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT, live on SuperSport PSL (DStv channel 202).
CURRENT FORM
Amakhosi's inconsistency in the league continued on Saturday as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates, and it was their third defeat in their last five matches in the top-flight, including two wins.
Chiefs remained fifth in the Betway Premiership standings - three points behind fourth-placed Sekhukhune United. A win over AmaZulu would see Amakhosi climb up to the fourth spot if the result between Sekhukhune and Pirates goes their way on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, AmaZulu have also been inconsistent in the league, having claimed a 2-1 win over SuperSport United on Saturday and it was their second win in their last four matches in the top tier, including two wins.
Usuthu are placed ninth in the Betway Premiership standings - two points behind Chiefs heading into their encounter. A victory over Chiefs would see the KwaZulu-Natal giants move into the top eight.
TEAM NEWS
Chiefs will be boosted by the availability of Tashreeq Morris, who missed the game against Pirates due to a suspension, but Njabulo Blom will be absent as the defender/midfielder is suspended.
AmaZulu, on the other hand, have no suspension concerns, but they are likely to be without Zambia international Augustine Mulenga, who is busy with his injury rehabilitation.
WHAT WAS SAID?
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi
“I don’t want an excuse, we lost this game [against Pirates] and it is not good. We lost three points but we have another opportunity in the other derby of the season," Nabi said.
“I am happy with the progress of my team, over the past five to six months the team has progressed with this project. The mentality has changed in the team when you compare it to last season.”
AmaZulu FC co-head coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi
"It was very important for us to win this game [against SuperSport], not focusing on our next game, but we had to focus on this one and take it one game at a time," Vilakazi said
"So maybe it helped us that after we suffered against Stellies, then we got a Nedbank Cup match against a lower division club [Mighty Eagles] where we can redeem ourselves and score more goals in order to boost our confidence ahead of [the] game [against SuperSport]."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mduduzi Shabalala, Kaizer Chiefs: With Wandile Duba out injured, the Amakhosi joint-top scorer will carry the team's hopes of securing a victory when they take on a revitalised AmaZulu side.
Rowan Human, AmaZulu: The attacking midfielder grabbed a goal and an assist as Usuthu claimed a win over SuperSport and he will be keen to produce another Man of the Match performance against Chiefs.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS
Season Result Scorers
2019/20 Chiefs 0-1 AmaZulu Ntuli
2020/21 AmaZulu 0-1 Chiefs Nurkovic
2020/21 Chiefs 1-2 AmaZulu Castro (pen); Mulenga, Majoro
2021/22 AmaZulu 1-1 Chiefs Memela; Dolly (pen)
2021/22 Chiefs 1-1 AmaZulu Buchanan (og); Ntuli
2022/23 Chiefs 0-0 AmaZulu
2022/23 AmaZulu 4-0 Chiefs Zuma, Mphahlele, Dion, Ntuli
2023/24 Chiefs 3-0 AmaZulu Mmodi 2, Castillo
2023/24 AmaZulu 1-1 Chiefs Letsoalo; Du Preez
2023/24 AmaZulu 1-3 Chiefs Ighodaro; Chivaviro, Sirino, Miguel
LEAGUE RECORD (since 1985)
Home
P W D L GF GA
Chiefs 34 22 8 4 59 18
AmaZulu 33 6 10 17 35 54
Away
P W D L GF GA
Chiefs 33 17 10 6 54 35
AmaZulu 34 4 8 22 18 59
Total
P W D L GF GA
Chiefs 67 39 18 10 113 53
AmaZulu 67 10 18 39 53 113