AmaZulu look to end Pirates’ winning streak

AmaZulu FC will look to end Orlando Pirates winning streak in the Betway Premiership when the teams meet at the Orlando Stadium on the evening of Friday 25 October 2024. Kick-off is at 7.30pm CAT.

AmaZulu come into the league match having suffered five successive defeats across all competitions, most recently going down 1-2 at the hands of Stellenbosch FC in last weekend’s first-round Carling Knockout tie.

Usuthu fought back from a goal down to take the cup match to extra time, thanks to Tshepang Moremi’s equaliser, but Andre de Jong scored the decisive strike seven minutes into extra time to see the Maroons progress.

AmaZulu’s last league outing was in late September, when they suffered a narrow 1-0 away loss at the hands of Marumo Gallants. Usuthu are placed 16th on the Premiership log and in search of their first points of the 2024-25 season.

Pirates, meanwhile, boast a 100 percent record in the league this season, having beaten SuperSport United 2-0 at home in midweek for a fourth straight win in the Premiership.

The Buccaneers trail league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns only on goals scored, and at this early stage of the season have established themselves as credible title contenders.

AmaZulu co-coach Arthur Zwane has urged his team to play without fear against Pirates, noting that their performance against a strong team like Stellenbosch (the reigning Carling KO champions, MTN8 runners-up and currently placed third on the league log) should boost the players’ confidence.

“We want our players to play without fear. You can’t be in the Premiership and have fear of winning games, we can beat anyone,” Zwane explained.

“Stellenbosch, with the quality team they have, not so long ago were playing in the final [of the MTN8 against Pirates] and they did well.

“And we gave them a scare, so it was not a walk in the park for them. When we look at where we come from and as much as Stellenbosch beat us, they had to dig deep for them to go to the next round.

“So, there are no easy games in the league and we still have a lot to do in terms of trying to make sure that there are tactical abilities in the squad and there is a tactical understanding and endurance.

“We are not worried about the opposition at the moment, we are worried about our squad… [we want] to get the best out of the players.”

In head-to-head stats, AmaZulu and Pirates have met in 67 league matches dating back as far as 1985. The Buccaneers have claimed 30 wins compared to 10 for Usuthu, while 27 games have been drawn. AmaZulu’s last league win over Pirates was in August 2013.