Arthur Zwane urges calm as AmaZulu chase Top 4 finish and Nedbank Cup glory

Arthur Zwane is relatively pleased with AmaZulu’s response to the demands in this current stretch of the season, insisting that the KwaZulu-Natal club are on course to achieve their respective targets at the end of the campaign.

Usuthu have grown in leaps and bounds this season. They are fifth in the Betway Premiership and en route to achieving president Sandile Zungu’s ambition of finishing in the Top 4 – something that has occurred only once during his reign.

AmaZulu could aid that Top 4 finish by adding a trophy to their cabinet, the Nedbank Cup, which would be the first silverware in more than three decades.

Despite the positivity surrounding the club, Zwane has asked for cool heads. While he’s pleased with the team’s continued growth, he has argued that last-16 opponents Richards Bay, who’ll host them at Umhlathuze Sports Complex on Friday night (kick-off 7pm), won’t be easy customers.

“We do have character of late. We have been showing good signs, though we are a work in progress," the coach said.

“We are looking to improve in each and every game. So, hopefully, we’ll take the upcoming game and treat it with the same respect, and hopefully get to the next round. But it won’t be easy,  just like the last game in Polokwane.”

Zwane has already done his analysis on their neighbours, stressing that while the Rich Boyz might be underdogs for the showdown, they remain a formidable side, especially up-front.

“I am not playing games when I am saying Richards has been doing very well,” Zwane said. “If you look at where they are, and how they’ve been performing lately, you’ll see what I am talking about.

“If you watched the game, tactically as I said earlier, in the first half against Chippa United, they could have easily scored three goals in 10 minutes. The game before that, they scored three goals, let alone conceding.”

An impressive outing for Usuthu both in the league and the Ke Yona Cup bodes well for the team's and players' personal ambitions. With Bafana Bafana set to compete at the Fifa World Cup in June, most players, who are eligible to represent the national team, have high hopes of making the final squad.

Some Usuthu players, such as goalkeeper Darren Johnson, are already on the radar of Bafana coach Hugo Broos, having been called up to the preliminary squad. 

Zwane would love to have some of his players don the national team jersey, like he did during his heyday, but has called for total focus and determination on club matters, as that’s the only springboard to the Bafana set-up.

“I don't want to put our players under pressure by starting to talk about the national team. Everyone has to work hard to get a call-up, and show that they are special, unique and what Bafana needs,” Zwane said.

“Anyone from the team can get a call-up if they give their best at all times. They just need to show growth and commitment.

"Yes, there were some players who made the prelim squad, but not the final cut. So, I believe that they can still do more.”

*Mihlali Baleka is Independent Media's senior football reporter and a panelist on the group's soccer podcast, The D-Line, which is exclusive on our YouTube channel The Clutch