17 Years Of Hurt: Can Zwane Break AmaZulu’s Ultimate Pirates Curse At Kings Park?

AmaZulu will have another opportunity to end a winless home streak against Orlando Pirates that stretches back nearly 20 years when they host the Soweto giants in the Betway Premiership at Kings Park Stadium on Wednesday.

Despite Usuthu’s poor record in this fixture, head coach Arthur Zwane holds fond memories of facing Pirates at the venue during his playing career.

AmaZulu have not defeated Pirates at home in Durban since 28 October 2009, when Ayanda Dlamini scored the winning goal at Chatsworth Stadium to secure a 2–1 victory for Neil Tovey’s side.

In that memorable encounter, Usuthu took the lead in the 26th minute through a Bradley Ritson header off a Marc van Heerden cross. Katlego Mashego equalized for Rudi Krol’s Pirates six minutes before half-time, but Dlamini ensured AmaZulu claimed all three points in the 77th minute by capitalizing on a pass from Litha Ngxabi to beat goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs.

Since that victory at Chatsworth Stadium, Pirates have visited Durban 17 times without suffering a single defeat, recording seven wins, including a 2–0 victory in February.

However, Wednesday’s clash takes place at Kings Park Stadium, a venue where Zwane enjoyed considerable success against Pirates as a player. He won the 2006 Coca-Cola Cup on penalties against Pirates and also scored at the venue when Kaizer Chiefs came from behind to draw 2–2 in November 2007.

That Soweto Derby was held at Kings Park to showcase South Africa to the world while Durban’s ICC was hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying draw, an event attended by high-ranking dignitaries, including former FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Zwane also won the MTN8 title with Chiefs at the same stadium when they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns on penalties during the 2008/09 season.

Pirates had lost in the previous season at the iconic venue in Durban when it was known as SAA Supa 8, going down 1-0 to Sundowns.

Both sides enter this fixture following contrasting cup fortunes over the weekend. Pirates reached another MTN8 semi-final by defeating Durban City at Orlando Amstel Arena, whereas AmaZulu failed to advance after falling 4–3 to Sekhukhune United in a high-scoring encounter at Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday.

Zwane, whose team opened their league campaign with a 1–0 win over Stellenbosch, insists his side must redeem themselves.

“It is always going to be difficult because now you have Pirates; we have got to redeem ourselves. It’s not going to be an easy one,” Zwane said.

“We are playing against a Pirates team that won, and we have got to do the right things.”