Zwane sets sights on guiding Usuthu into CAF inter-club competitions

Usuthu kick off their Betway Premiership campaign this season with an away fixture in their home city, when they play the ‘homeless’ Stellenbosch FC at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Claremont, Durban, this afternoon. 

After finishing fourth last season, just behind Kaizer Chiefs, AmaZulu are coming into the new season with renewed energy, and Zwane believes a top-three finish is achievable...

"We really want to improve our position from last season and we are desperate to see ourselves campaigning in CAF inter-club competitions. We are a hardworking team and I want us to adopt that underdog mentality throughout the season," explained Zwane.

READ: WAFCON: Banyana Banyana still alive after late fightback against Ivory Coast

With a balanced squad, AmaZulu are also coming into the new season having strengthened it with youthful and experienced talent, with the latest arrival being the highly rated Orlando Pirates rising-star winger Neo Mokoena. 

Usuthu won the KwaZulu-Natal’s Premier Cup last weekend, beating the newly promoted Milford FC in the final. Zwane says they received the much-needed challenge to thoroughly prepare themselves for the start of the new campaign...

"We are really blessed that the management and the people here at AmaZulu have given us the necessary support and we thank them for organising these important pre-season tournaments, and we go into the first game of the season in good shape after preparing really well."

In the two seasons that Mangethe has been with AmaZulu, the team has never finished outside the top eight, this shows growth and maturity in his coaching abilities as he becomes an increasingly competitive coach.