AmaZulu and Chiefs set for top eight confrontation

AmaZulu will take on Kaizer Chiefs in the DStv Premiership to battle it out for a place in the top eight on Sunday afternoon at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Kick-off is at 5:30 pm (SA, GMT+2).

CURRENT FORM

In their last three matches, AmaZulu have struggled to find a decent run having lost two games to Orlando Pirates and Richards Bay in their last encounter respectively. The team managed to beat Chippa United 2-1 towards the end of April.

Usuthu are placed 12th on the league standings but are just two points behind Kaizer Chiefs, which will make this a crucial encounter to determine which team will most likely grab a top eight finish.

As for Kaizer Chiefs, the Soweto team recently received a 5-1 drubbing from Mamelodi Sundowns and drew 2-2 against TS Galaxy in their most recent match. The Glamour Boys are currently eighth on the log, with 34 points.

The team beat SuperSport United 2-1 in April, following the same trend as AmaZulu by losing, drawing and winning one fixture in their last three matches.

WHAT WAS SAID

AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco Martin is keeping a positive mindset ahead of the match against Chiefs and thinks they have a good chance of beating them.

“It is a massive one. Chiefs are coming and a lot of fans are going to be coming to support them and I think they are going to have the motivation to give them joy,” said Franco Martin.

“They are a big team with top players, but if we perform the way we performed against Stellenbosch and we face the Chiefs game with that intensity and concentration that we usually have when we have these kinds of games,”

“I am sure it is going to be an amazing show and it is going to be tough. It is going to depend on the performance that we display,” he added.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Abbubaker Mobara, AmaZulu - The defender’s suspension has been lifted and will be expected to start in the match against the Glamour Boys. Mobara is a player that offers both defensive and attacking strength, he might prove to be crucial in this clash.

Ranga Chivaviro, Kaizer Chiefs - The forward was the Man of the Match in Chiefs’ last match in the DStv Premiership as he scored a brace. If he keeps up the decent form, he will be a danger to AmaZulu’s defence.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2018/19 AmaZulu 2-3 Chiefs Karuru, van Heerden; van Heerden (og), Parker, Katsande

2019/20 AmaZulu 0-2 Chiefs Castro, Billiat

2019/20 Chiefs 0-1 AmaZulu Ntuli

2020/21 AmaZulu 0-1 Chiefs Nurkovic

2020/21 Chiefs 1-2 AmaZulu Castro (pen); Mulenga, Majoro

2021/22 AmaZulu 1-1 Chiefs Memela; Dolly (pen)

2021/22 Chiefs 1-1 AmaZulu Buchanan (og); Ntuli

2022/23 Chiefs 0-0 AmaZulu

2022/23 AmaZulu 4-0 Chiefs Zuma, Mphahlele, Dion, Ntuli

2023/24 Chiefs 3-0 AmaZulu Mmodi 2, Castillo