AmaZulu co-coach Arthur Zwane is planning to avoid the banana peel that is Might Eagles on Tuesday night in their Nedbank Cup round of 16 encounter. Picture: Alche Greeff, BackpagePix
AmaZulu are on a mission to bounce back from a recent league setback as they prepare to clash with lower-tier side Mighty Eagles in the Nedbank Cup on Tuesday.
The highly anticipated match, set to take place at the King Zwelithini Stadium at 7pm, offers Usuthu a golden opportunity to restore their confidence and aim for a significant victory that could propel them into the round of 16.
The KwaZulu-Natal side enter the fixture reeling from a heavy defeat to Stellenbosch last week Thursday in a shocking result that not only raised eyebrows across the division, but also threatened their aspirations for a Top 8 finish.
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— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) January 24, 2025
Despite this, the club has demonstrated flashes of improvement under the stewardship of co-coaches Arthur Zwane and Vusumuzi Vilakazi, who are both eager to lead their squad to cup glory following an early exit from the Carling Knockout against the same opponents last month.
With the Nedbank Cup renowned for its ability to produce surprising outcomes, Mighty Eagles are preparing to seize their moment in the spotlight, hoping to script their own piece of footballing history.
Coach Zwane has acknowledged the danger posed by the enthusiastic underdogs, yet he remains resolute on concentrating on their own performance.
"Everyone will always fancy their chances regardless, so it’s all up to us at the end of the day," he stated after the recent league match.
"The ball is in our court; we just have to turn things around. If we believe we can improve, we need to showcase that on the pitch against Eagles and look ahead to the coming challenges, including SuperSport United."
This upcoming fixture against Mighty Eagles will serve as both a test of AmaZulu’s resolve and their capability to overcome adversity. The players will not only face the challenge of silencing the doubts following their recent league defeat but will also aim to restore belief among fans as they strive for a deep run in this prestigious tournament.
Usuthu finds itself in a unique position, especially after witnessing Golden Arrows’ elimination at the hands of Chippa United and Richards Bay succumbing to Orlando Pirates over the weekend.
They now stand as the only true hope for the province in ending a 16-year trophy drought. The club has come agonisingly close to breaking their over three-decade wait for silverware, having lost in the final to Pirates.
Meanwhile, in the visiting dugout, Mighty Eagles are eager to maintain their magical momentum through the ranks of South African football.
Competing in their first season in the ABC Motsepe League, they made history by becoming the first team from a lower division in the Eastern Cape to reach the Nedbank Cup last 32.
This achievement is significant for coach Sibusiso “Popo” Mapompo, who has navigated to the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup for the second consecutive time; last year, he guided FC Ravens to that stage.