Advertisement

Hanamub stunner fires AmaZulu up to third place

football02 December 2025 19:55| © Backpage TXT
Share

AmaZulu FC claimed a 1-0 win over Golden Arrows in their final Betway Premiership fixture of 2025 at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, Durban, on Tuesday night.

Advertisement

The victory sees Usuthu climb up to the third place in the standings, a point behind second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns.

Coach Arthur Zwane's side will resume their league campaign on 25 January when they play host to TS Galaxy at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Abafana Bes'thende, on the other hand, remained 10th in the standings - three points behind eighth-placed Durban City.

Coach Manqoba Mngqithi's side will be in action again next year when they take on Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on 20 January.

Usuthu were dealt a blow a few minutes before the half-hour mark as their first-choice goalkeeper Darren Johnson went down injured.

The former South Africa under-23 international had to be substituted in the 27th minute, with promising shot-stopper Olwethu Mzimela coming on as his replacement.

Abafana Bes'thende exerted pressure on the visitors towards the halftime break and they were awarded a penalty after Siyanda Ndlovu was fouled in the box.

Sede Junior Dion stepped up and hit the crossbar from the spot-kick in first-half stoppage time.

AmaZulu were breathing a sigh of relief at halftime with the two sides locked at 0-0.

AmaZulu came back pumped up after the restart and they broke the deadlock in the 56th minute.

It took something special to beat goalkeeper Xolani Ngcobo as Riaan Hanamub cut inside and scored a cracker with his weaker right foot to hand the visitors a 1-0 lead, with 22-year-old Liam Bern providing the assist.

Mngqithi decided to introduce Brandon Theron in the 67th minute as Arrows looked to level matters.

However, Mzimela was in top form on the night as the 24-year-old produced a stunning double save to deny Angelo Van Rooi and Theron in the 79th minute to ensure that AmaZulu held on to secure a 1-0 win on the night.

Arrows 0

AmaZulu 1 (Hanamub 56')

Arrows: Ngcobo, Komara, Cisse (Sibiya 67'), Phillips (Theron 67'), Jiyane, Ndlovu (Nguse 85'), Dlamini, S.Cele (Mafuleka 85'), Van Rooi, Dion, Maxwele (Radebe 74')

AmaZulu: Johnson (Mzimela 27'), Radebe, Hanamub, Mthethwa, Fielies, Hlangabeza, Bern (Zikhali 89'), Ngcobo (Dube 46'), Ngwenya (Esktein 46'), Maqokolo, Mashigo (Moon 85')

Advertisement