Zwane Sets Sights On Top-Four Finish To Secure Crucial MTN8 Home Quarter-Final

AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane is determined to clinch a top-four finish in the Betway Premiership to guarantee Usuthu a massive home draw in next season’s MTN8 quarter-finals.

Usuthu will battle Sekhukhune United for that coveted fourth spot when they travel to face cross-town rivals Durban City at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday.

The coastal side currently occupies fourth place with 44 points from 29 matches—holding a slender one-point advantage over fifth-placed Sekhukhune United.

Babina Noko will simultaneously host Siwelele at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.

To maintain sporting integrity, the league will kick off all Round 30 fixtures simultaneously, preventing any side from gaining an unfair tactical advantage.

Finishing fourth would represent a massive milestone for an energetic Usuthu outfit that boasts an average squad age of just 24.

Crucially, AmaZulu have not hosted an MTN8 fixture on home soil since the 2022/23 campaign, a historic season where they ultimately reached the final before falling to Orlando Pirates.

“This position four loves us,” Zwane remarked.

“We have been in that position for quite some time now. We could have secured it earlier; we should not be in the situation we are in, especially considering the way we conceded against Golden Arrows in the last minute.

Zwane lamented dropped opportunities that prevented his team from locking down the position earlier.

“That game was over, and we could have managed it better. I also think against Orbit College, we had opportunities to win but failed to take them,” he said.

“Even against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, when we lost, we had chances. There were several matches where we should have done better just to secure fourth place.”

Usuthu faces a grueling final assignment against a highly motivated Durban City side that requires just a single point to secure their own top-eight status.

City—who recently lifted the Nedbank Cup to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup—remain notoriously difficult to break down on their own turf, having suffered only a single home league defeat this season at the hands of champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

“But maybe we just have to overcome this final hurdle, which is the game against Durban City, and that is going to be very tough,” Zwane continued.

“Everyone wants to finish the season on a high. They are not easy opponents — they are a very tough team and are playing very well at the moment.”