AmaZulu brace for tough challenge with champions Sundowns

Usuthu coach Ayanda Dlamini says he doesn’t expect the Brazilians to take the game lightly simply because they’ve long wrapped up the title. 

"You might say Sundonws have won the league, but I think this is one of the most professional teams in the league. They take every game seriously, it's not going to be [just] because they've won the league", he argued.  

With three games to go, AmaZulu are in 11th place and victory against Sundowns will guarantee they pull away from the relegation zone. 

"For us, it's another cup final, and we're playing the best team in the league, probably the best team in Africa right now. So we have to be prepared for that. I know Sundowns, they'll never make it easy for anyone.”

Dlamini has a lot of admiration for what the Tshwane outfit has achieved over the years as well as this season by winning the league with seven games to spare and is now in the semifinals of the CAF Champions League. 

"They always want to win. That's the culture, and I think that's the culture everybody in this league needs to implement. To make sure you go for everything, and we are not at that level. Sundowns is far far ahead, but we still need to compete against them."

The AmaZulu mentor will have a tough decision to make in selecting his goalkeeper tonight after Jody February kept a clean sheet in the win against Sekhukhune United on Saturday, while the captain and first-choice Veli Mothwa was injured. 

"The competition is hectic for every player here. If you work hard you get the chance you deserve. And I have six games to complete this season, so I didn't say Veli is the number one, Jody got his chance because Veli is injured. If they come back they'll compete again for the position."