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After releasing 17 players at the end of last season, AmaZulu assistant coach Siboniso Vilakazi has admitted they are still short on quality and experience.
The mass clear-out at Usuthu saw senior figures such as former captain Veli Mothwa, Abbubaker Mobara, Thembela Sikhakhane, and Ramahlwe Mphahlele all moving on as the club looks to enter a fresh, new era.
Vilakazi says the KwaZulu-Natal Premier’s Cup wasn’t a clear indication of their final squad for the 2025/26 season, as they assessed options to build depth.
"When you look at the second team against Durban City then it tells you that we don't have depth because it was a completely new team," said Vilakazi.
"But we have players we are trying to reinforce [with] – those with PSL experience, some that were loaned out and coming in just for us to look at them, and then there are players coming from within our system, so we are making sure [of what we have].
"It's not that we are just starting from scratch, but we are trying our level best to make sure that we put together those puzzle pieces at the end of the day.
"When you look after this tournament, it will tell you we are quite happy and excited with the performance of the youngsters, with the speed and energy we are looking to dominate the game, but in terms of the depth, it's not there."
After beating Golden Arrows in their opening match before losing to Durban City in the semi-final, Vilakazi says the Premier’s Cup served its purpose for them, as they prepare for their MTN8 quarter-final away to Stellenbosch FC this weekend.
"Of course, yes, we'd like to win, but now what matters most is these are games preparing you for the start of the season, so for us it's just [to put together] piece of the puzzle," he added.
"We have players left from the previous season, as well as those with experience that we are trying to reinforce with, and we have players that were loaned out and are coming back.
"So we are trying to make sure we reinforce the team so that, at the end of the day, those pieces – when they come together – can give us something, so the objective was reached for us."
