Zwane Driven To Repay Zungu’s Investment With Nedbank Cup Glory

Arthur Zwane says AmaZulu must repay the investment made by club president Sandile Zungu by winning the Nedbank Cup this season.

Zungu purchased the Durban-based club in October 2020 and has invested heavily in restoring Usuthu to the stature they enjoyed three decades ago.

That investment quickly paid dividends when AmaZulu finished runners-up in the league during the 2020/21 season, raising hopes that the club could eventually challenge for the domestic title.

Usuthu now have another opportunity to chase silverware when they host giant-killers Casric Stars in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

AmaZulu are aiming to reach the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since the 2011/12 season, when they were beaten 3-0 by SuperSport United. SuperSport went on to defeat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 in the final at Orlando Stadium.

Despite their long history, AmaZulu have yet to win the Nedbank Cup, having lost all six finals they have reached.

Their first appearance came in 1972 when they were still known as Zulu Royals, losing 4-1 to Kaizer Chiefs. They reached the final again the following year but were beaten 5-2 by Orlando Pirates.

Usuthu made it three consecutive finals in 1974 but once again fell short, losing 1-0 to Pirates.

The club returned to the final in 1987, where they suffered another narrow 1-0 defeat to Chiefs, before losing again in 1990 to Jomo Cosmos.

AmaZulu’s most recent final appearance came in 2010, when they lost 3-0 to Bidvest Wits at FNB Stadium — the first match played at the venue ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Zwane acknowledged the significance of the current opportunity, saying success would benefit both the players and the club’s long-term project.

“For this generation of players, it will make their lives better and strengthen the project as a whole,” Zwane said.

“And considering the investment the president and the board have made, when a chance like this comes we must make sure we do not let it slip.”

He added that AmaZulu are also targeting a strong finish in the league while pushing for cup success.

“It has also been a long time since the team had a chance of finishing in the top three, and we also have an opportunity in the cup.

“That would be very good for us — finishing in the top three and winning the cup. Our fans would look forward to next season believing we can achieve even more.

“We definitely have to be better next season to show progress. When we started last season, things were a bit unsettled because of the changes. Now we have a solid foundation and we can see where we are going.

“For many years we have not given the supporters and the board anything to celebrate. We need to boost their confidence and show a return on the investment that has been made.

“Because football is all about that.”

There may be no better opportunity to win the Nedbank Cup this season, with traditional powerhouses Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns—who have dominated the final over the past five seasons—already eliminated in the earlier rounds.