AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane has candidly admitted that his side would be in a stronger position in the Betway Premiership league table had they capitalized on earlier scoring opportunities.

Following a recent 1-0 victory over their KwaZulu-Natal rivals, Golden Arrows, Usuthu have climbed to sixth place in the standings from eighth.

After playing 26 league matches, AmaZulu currently hold 33 points with two crucial games remaining: a home fixture against Polokwane City at King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday [19:30], and a final match against Orlando Pirates on 24 May.

“Yes, obviously top four now we let it slip like I said,” said Zwane.

“Unfortunately, we find ourselves in a situation where we’re fighting to secure a spot in the top eight, and yet with all those five attempts we had previously, if we took advantage of one or two, I think we would be in a better position by now. 

“It could have been easy for us to consolidate and see where we are and how we should plan our approach for the last two games. Right now, we’re desperate. We have to be honest, we’re desperate.”

The former Kaizer Chiefs tactician states it will be positive results for the club to keep a clean sheet and score goals in their last two games.

“In terms of performance, there was a time when there was a bit of consistency, but we’re also consistent in conceding goals that we shouldn’t have.

“If you look at some of the games that we dropped points, you only live with regrets that if we shouldn’t make these mistakes, at least you get a point, you know, because that’s the game you deserve to win, and you look at the games that we won now of late; those were very, very tight games.”

He continued, “Yeah, sometimes you create your own luck, but I think in some of those games we didn’t have enough luck to grab maximum points, and again we beat ourselves because the goals we conceded were like the gift of the givers.

“Actually, all the goals that we conceded, the majority, if I would say, 80% of our goals, we just gave them to our opposition with ease.”

“So we’re trying to rectify that mistake, and we’re just hoping that we continue where we left off in our last game, and more especially our last two games.

“If we can manage to keep two clean sheets in these two upcoming games, I think that will be a plus for us and be able to score as well. I think that will boost the morale of the squad because everyone wants to finish on a high note. After all, we started the season low,” he added, as Usuthu lost the opening three matches, and that resulted in the club firing Pablo Franco Martin.

Furthermore, Zwane reiterated their commitment to playing for positive results and rewarding their loyal supporters. 

“We were struggling here and there, we had injuries like I said, the performances as well, were not convincing, some were convincing, so we’re looking for consistency,” he said.

“So we’re just hoping we’ll continue where we left off in terms of grinding the results and also playing this game with pride and dignity, more especially for our supporters who have been there for us since the beginning of the season.”

Article by Kamogelo Ndlovu