“Horrible Defending, Manna From Heaven”: Zwane Rips Usuthu Backline

AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane admitted that his side needs defensive reinforcements after conceding four goals in a dramatic MTN8 quarter-final defeat to Sekhukhune United.

The result on Sunday marked the first time AmaZulu had conceded four goals since Zwane took charge of the club, with the coach left frustrated by several defensive mistakes that ultimately contributed to their elimination from the competition.

AmaZulu signed just two defenders ahead of the new season, bringing in Omega Mdaka and Keenan Phillips on free transfers after they departed Stellenbosch and Golden Arrows respectively.

Mdaka has featured in both matches AmaZulu have played this season and started against Sekhukhune, while Phillips is yet to make his debut and has not been included in a matchday squad.

Zwane believes Usuthu need to strengthen their defence, particularly given the lack of pace among his current defensive options.

“Look, I’ve always been saying, hence we say we’re playing, you know, as well, play that back because we don’t have enough, you know, pace at the back,” Zwane said.

“So, Riaan Hanamub makes our life a little bit easier in terms of that pace at the back. So, yeah, hopefully we’ll get one that can help.

“But, yeah, it’s disappointing the way we conceded those goals today.”

Zwane was also particularly critical of his team’s defending during the 120 minutes at Chatsworth Stadium, believing AmaZulu had enough opportunities to finish the game before it went into extra time.

“We took the foot, you know, off the pedal when we were supposed to, you know, apply more pressure on them and force them to make mistakes,” he added.

“And actually, we created too many chances. We buried one to make it 2-0, and we did not.

“Teams like this, if you don’t, especially teams that have structure and quality players as well, once you don’t take your chances, you’re allowing them to come back. So, we just needed to bury, you know, those chances that we created.

“Then just before, you know, half-time, I even signalled to the players that there’s only three minutes left, then let’s kill the game, let’s slow everything down. Again, we let them, against the run of play, play from outside to inside, then we lose the ball, and then they equalise.

“And second half, I’ve never seen such horrible defending from our side, but it’s one of those that we can learn. I think we gave them just, you know, manna from heaven, goals that they did not have to score.

“The player gets the ball here, then he runs through all the way, you know, and finishes, when we had about three, you know, other defenders waiting that could have done better.

“And I told them, I said, he’s a left-footed player. Left-footed player, for you to go to his right, his weak side, then we allow him to go inside. So, yeah, it’s one of those things.

“Hopefully, we’ll learn and get better. After equalising, we should have scored about three quick goals and killed the game off.

“This game shouldn’t have gone even to extra time. But we did not take those chances. Then again, against the run of play in extra time, we conceded another goal.

“Obviously, they were going to sit, you know. So, yeah, we beat ourselves. This is one game that we could have easily won. As tough as it was, based on the chances created, I think we could have won. We were not ruthless enough.”

Following the defeat, Zwane and his players will have little time to dwell on the disappointment as they immediately turn their attention to the Betway Premiership.

Usuthu will host defending champions Orlando Pirates at Kings Park Stadium on Wednesday, with Zwane’s side looking to respond positively to their cup exit.

Despite the disappointment against Sekhukhune, AmaZulu began their league campaign on a winning note after beating Stellenbosch in their opening match of the season. They will now hope to maintain that momentum in the league while putting their MTN8 disappointment behind them.