Usuthu eye back-to-back wins at Chiefs

AmaZulu FC will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in the Betway Premiership match when they face Kaizer Chiefs at the world-class FNB Stadium in Nasrec.

Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT.

AmaZulu have 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.

“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,” AmaZulu co-head coach Vusumuzi 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 today’s game.”

AmaZulu have no suspension concerns, but they are likely to be without Zambia international Augustine Mulenga who has been working on his fitness following a long-term injury.

Meanwhile, Chiefs have also been inconsistent in the league as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates on Saturday 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.

“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,” Chiefs head coach Nasreddine 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.”

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-come-midfielder is suspended.