One spot is up for grabs in the MTN8 final as AmaZulu are set to welcome Kaizer Chiefs in the semifinal second leg on Sunday afternoon. Usuthu are standing in the way of Arthur Zwane who’s longing to reach his first cup final as a head coach.
But it’s not only about ‘10111’.Getting to the final would grant Amakhosi’s faithful a spark of hope about the future as they’ve thrown their weight behind the team even during a rocky road with the club having not lifted a trophy since 2016.
The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw in the Chiefs’ backyard, FNB Stadium. It was Gabadinho Mhango who netted the away goal for the KwaZulu-Natal outfit early in the first half before Keagan Dolly cancelled it out in the second stanza.
The Phefeni Boys couldn’t produce the desired results in their last two outings, however, a cup match usually throws the form book out of the window. We could see a different side of the Gold and Black led by Keagan Dolly who seems to be finding his true form recently .
The absence of Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana means we are likely to see Khama Billiat playing as a false 9. This would offer him an opportunity to remind us of his capabilities and regain the Chiefs supporters’ trust.
Meanwhile, Usuthu are on the front foot with an away goal advantage and are eyeing the first cup final since 2010.
Following the appointment of a new coach, AmaZulu have improved their offensive game. Most of the time, they play the ball behind the opposition’s defence looking to capitalise through the pace of the likes of Lehlohonolo Majoro and Augustine Kwem. In addition, the speed of Gabadinho Mhango could also be of help Amazulu look to approach the game by trying to catch Chiefs on the break with their pace upfront. This could be what wins the game for Amazulu when you consider that Chiefs have conceded nine goals in their previous seven games and Usuthu, who look sharp upfront will try to exploit their leaky defence.
Match details:
AmaZulu vs Kaizer Chiefs
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Kick-off: 15:30
