Zwane Prepares For Sundowns Clash, Highlights ‘Individual Brilliance’
AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane has stated that Mamelodi Sundowns’ past victories over his side have been a result of the individual brilliance of players like Lucas Ribeiro Costa and Peter Shalulile.
Last season, AmaZulu suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first round at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with the winning goal scored by Iqraam Rayners in the 90th minute.
This came despite Sundowns playing with 10 men for most of the game after goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was sent off in the 58th minute. Rayners, a former Stellenbosch striker, made the difference with a header that highlighted Sundowns’ quality.
In the second leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium in March, Shalulile and Arthur Sales were once again the difference-makers, with both scoring to secure a 2-0 victory for Sundowns.
As the two teams prepare to clash at Loftus Stadium on Tuesday, Zwane may be relieved that both Costa and Shalulile could be unavailable.
Costa, the reigning PSL Footballer of the Season, has missed two matches this season amid transfer interest from clubs in Qatar and Brazil. Shalulile also missed the MTN8 final against Richards Bay due to interest from Tunisia, though he was on the bench for their 1-1 draw with Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
Meanwhile, AmaZulu started their season with a win, beating newly promoted Orbit College in Durban on Saturday.
“We won’t go in with the mentality that they played to a goalless draw and assume it will be an easy game for us,” Zwane warned.
“It will be very difficult to talk about underdogs this season. If you look at the games we have played previously against Sundowns, we have been hurt by individual brilliance. You talk of Peter Shalulile, Lucas Ribeiro Costa—in both the first and second rounds of last season, those were the two players who made the difference. It’s why I’m saying it is going to be hard for everyone. Yes, they do have quality.”
After the draw with Chippa, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso stressed the importance of bouncing back with their first win of the season against AmaZulu.
“We have so much respect for them, but we cannot judge them based on the game they played against Chippa that was a draw,” Zwane added.
“It’s going to be a different ball game when they play against us.”
