AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane has acknowledged that their chances of finishing in the top four are diminishing.

This assessment comes after Usuthu suffered their third consecutive league defeat, most recently a 2-1 loss to Chippa United at Buffalo City Municipality Stadium on Saturday.

Despite this setback, AmaZulu remains within the top eight, currently holding seventh position in the Betway Premiership table with 30 points after 24 matches.

While Zwane initially aimed for a top-four finish, he now believes their consistent losses are jeopardizing this objective.

“We were supposed to beat Chippa and consolidate, we are in the top eight,” stated Zwane.

“If you look at the past four games that we played and look at the goals we conceded, they are identical. Now we are putting ourselves under pressure because we give Chippa a lifeline to get closer to us. The next game, if we don’t win, then we are out of the top eight

“Although our target is position four, it seems like those chances are falling away because we keep hurting ourselves.”

He attributes their conceded goals throughout the season to avoidable errors.

Usuthu has scored 27 goals but conceded 32, resulting in a goal difference of negative five.

“We just conceded goals that we shouldn’t have, from our own mistakes again, giving the ball away cheaply and end up conceding,” he admitted. 

“That has been the story of our season; look at all the goals that we conceded. We gift of the givers. We give goals away to all these teams.”

Usuthu’s loss marked their 12th defeat of the season, with only nine victories in 24 games, placing them seventh.

The Durban-based team will seek to return to winning form when they host Richards Bay at King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday at 19:30, following their 3-1 victory in the previous encounter.

Article by Kamogelo Ndlovu