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AmaZulu, Richards Bay to battle for KZN supremacy

football02 April 2025 15:30| © Backpage TXT
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AmaZulu FC © Gallo Images

AmaZulu FC will lock horns with their KwaZulu-Natal rivals, Richards Bay, in the Betway Premiership match at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday.

Kick-off is at 7:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

Usuthu's stretched their winless run to four matches in the league when they were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Chippa United away on 29 March and it was also their third defeat in a row.

Despite the defeat, AmaZulu remain seventh in the Premiership standings - four points behind sixth-placed Polokwane City and three points above 10th-placed Golden Arrows.

Meanwhile, Richards Bay continued their inconsistency in the league when they suffered a 3-1 loss to Polokwane City away on 30 March and it was also their second defeat in their last three games.

As a result, the Natal Rich Boys are occupying the 13th spot in the Premiership standings - two points above the relegation zone and three points behind their KwaZulu-Natal rivals, Arrows.

TEAM NEWS

Neither AmaZulu or Richards Bay have any suspension concerns coming into this KwaZulu-Natal derby encounter.

WHAT WAS SAID?

AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane

“We were supposed to beat Chippa [in the last game] to consolidate our position. We’re in the top eight, but if you look at the past four games we have played, you look at the goals we have conceded, they are identical," Zwane said.

"We could have done better. So, now we’re putting ourselves under pressure because we gave Chippa a lifeline to get closer to us. You understand what I’m saying? So, the next game, if you don’t win, then we’re out of the top eight.

"So, though our target is position four, it seems like those chances are fading because we keep hurting ourselves.”

Richards Bay coach Ronnie Gabriel

“Looking at the ways things are down there at the bottom of the league, we cannot be naive and run away from it," Gabriel said.

"We are fighting that battle for survival and we understand the dynamics that come into play for us to get out of the battle.

“We are up for the challenge and we will regroup and get better against AmaZulu and get the result at home on Friday.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tshepang Moremi, AmaZulu: Usuthu will look to the explosive winger, who grabbed his third league goal of the season against Chippa United and he has also provided six assists in the competition.

Justice Figuareido, Richards Bay: Having scored in matches against Polokwane City and Kaizer Chiefs, the in-form forward will carry the Natal Rich Boys' hopes of grabbing the KwaZulu-Natal derby bragging rights.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2022/23 AmaZulu 0-1 Bay Hlongwa

2022/23 Bay 1-1 AmaZulu Maphathe; Qalinge

2023/24 AmaZulu 0-0 Bay

2023/24 Bay 2-1 AmaZulu Figuareido, Barns; Mulenga

2024/25 Bay 1-3 AmaZulu Mbuthuma; Human, Ighodaro, Brooks

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2022/23)

Home

P W D L GF GA

AmaZulu 2 0 1 1 0 1

Bay 3 1 1 1 4 5

Away

P W D L GF GA

AmaZulu 3 1 1 1 5 4

Bay 2 1 1 0 1 0

Total

P W D L GF GA

AmaZulu 5 1 2 2 5 5

Bay 5 2 2 1 5 5

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