AmaZulu Eyes Confidence-Booster Over City Before Pirates Clash
AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco Martin has admitted that their DStv Premiership match against Cape Town City is vitally important to gain confidence before the Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash against Orlando Pirates, who are holders of the competition, next weekend.
Usuthu will visit City at DHL Stadium on Sunday, with Eric Tinkler’s side looking for their first league win of 2024.
It is the same for Usuthu, who are also without a league win in 2024 and yet to win away from KwaZulu-Natal this season.
They are yet to win outside the KZN province, with the only victory coming against Golden Arrows at Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammersdale.
In 10 league matches played away, Usuthu has lost five and drew four, with Abafana Bes’Thende the only side they have W in their winning column.
It is crucially important that they change that for the first time this season before the Pirates game arrives at the Moses Mabhida Stadium next weekend in the Ke Yona last eight.
“We are trying to get into any game to win and play as best as possible,” replied Martin when asked by Sportswire how crucial for them to get the morale-boosting win before the Bucs game.
“Because you are reaching the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 12 years, a little bit of history we are making. We are an ambitious team and we always said that. We want more, and we have not beaten Pirates for a long time and reached the semi-final of the competition for 12 years.”
Pirates are the holders of this Nedbank Cup having defeated Sekhukhune United 2-1 at Loftus Stadium in May last year last season.
However, Usuthu, if they aim to reach the Ke Yona semi-final, they will have to do something they have not done since 2009 to beat Pirates in Durban.
“We know the game in Cape Town is going to be a tough one, but we are going to try to do our best and collect as many points as possible to climb up a little bit in the table,” Martin added as they drew with Polokwane City on Tuesday.
“To beat one of the best teams away, will encourage us ahead of the Pirates.”
AmaZulu’s last league win against City in Cape Town was a 5-1 hammering of them in 2021 under legendary coach Benni McCarthy, presenting the club’s biggest win in the PSL era.