AmaZulu FC will be targeting a spot in the Betway Premiership’s top three when they meet champions Mamelodi Sundowns at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday.
Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT.
Usuthu stretched their unbeaten run to three matches across all competitions when they drew 0-0 with SuperSport United away in a league clash on 5 March and prior to that, they had won two games in a row.
Usuthu are placed sixth in the Betway Premiership standings – a point behind third-placed Stellenbosch FC and a win over Sundowns would see the KwaZulu-Natal giants climb into the top three if the other results go their way.
“We had to rest Bongani (Zungu) for the next game because he’s our heartbeat, he’s a thinker,” AmaZulu head coach Arthur Zwane said.
“He’s the one that controls everything at the moment. And the other guys – [Ethan] Brooks, [Rowan] Human, they play with energy because they are still young.
“You can’t expect them to play like Bongani, you know, Bongani is the one who controls everything, the rhythm in our game.”
AmaZulu, on the other hand, will welcome back Riaan Hanamub and Richard Ofori from suspension.
Meanwhile, Sundowns are undefeated in their last six matches across all competitions, having drawn 1-1 with Golden Arrows away in a league on game on 5 March and their five-match winning streak came to an end.
Sundowns are sitting pretty at the top of the Betway Premiership standings – 16 points clear of second-placed Orlando Pirates, who have four games in hand as the two Gauteng giants battle for the championship.
“I think it will be important that VAR be put on here in South Africa, it will help the referees when they make mistakes,” Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso said.
“They are human beings, and normally, it can happen. When there are too many mistakes in one match, then it is not comfortable.
“In a normal game [against Golden Arrows], we should have won, and that has cost us two points that can be important in the championship fight. It can be important for the morale of the team.”
Sundowns will be without the services of Terrence Mashego and Neo Maema, who are both on Bafana Bafana duty.
Head-to-Head
LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS
Season Result Scorers
2019/20 AmaZulu 0-3 Sundowns Vilakazi, Zwane 2 (1 pen)
2020/21 Sundowns 4-3 AmaZulu Zwane 3, Shalulile; Majoro, Memela, Khumalo
2020/21 AmaZulu 0-0 Sundowns
2021/22 Sundowns 1-0 AmaZulu Zwane (pen)
2021/22 AmaZulu 1-0 Sundowns Mulenga
2022/23 Sundowns 1-0 AmaZulu Allende
2022/23 AmaZulu 2-2 Sundowns Mphalele, Dion; Zungu, Shalulile
2023/24 AmaZulu 0-1 Sundowns Ribeiro (pen)
2023/24 Sundowns 3-0 AmaZulu Ribeiro 3
2024/25 AmaZulu 0-1 Sundowns Rayners
LEAGUE RECORD (since 1985)
Home
P W D L GF GA
Sundowns 33 21 6 6 68 29
AmaZulu 35 3 9 23 19 57
Away
P W D L GF GA
Sundowns 35 23 9 3 57 19
AmaZulu 33 6 6 21 29 68
Total
P W D L GF GA
Sundowns 68 44 15 9 125 48
AmaZulu 68 9 15 44 48 125
