AmaZulu will host Lamontville Golden Arrows in a KZN derby at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu on Saturday evening. Kickoff is at 6pm, with league points and local bragging rights at stake.
AmaZulu go into the game third in the Premiership with 19 points after four league wins in a row. Golden Arrows are eighth on eight points and lost their last league game to Milford.
“We want to go out there with a mindset of winning and getting maximum points,” AmaZulu midfielder Siyanda Hlangabeza said, according to IOL.
The Durban game comes while much of the country is looking to Johannesburg for the Soweto derby. Hlangabeza said his team expects a hard match against their neighbours. “Arrows is a good team; they are doing well right now,” he said.
The midfielder said the players also have the fans in mind. “We aren’t just doing this for ourselves, but for the name of the club and the supporters,” he said.
Goalkeeper Olwethu Mzimela said the team must move quickly from cup celebrations to league duty. “What makes this match even more exciting is that it’s a derby, and both teams are coming off advancing in the cup,” he said.
“But now we need to shift our focus back to the league and make sure we pick up right where we left off,” Mzimela said. “A cup game and a league match are completely different scenarios.” He said a win would help AmaZulu keep their league momentum.
Both clubs reached the next round of the Carling Knockout Cup last weekend. Hedrick Ekstein scored the winner as Arthur Zwane’s AmaZulu beat Kruger United 1-0. Golden Arrows beat Chippa United 4-0.
Both teams have away games in the quarter-finals. AmaZulu were drawn against Stellenbosch FC. Golden Arrows will face log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Recent league results between the clubs favour AmaZulu. They are unbeaten in the last four league meetings, with two wins and two draws.
Saturday’s game also marks the return of Mandla Ncikazi to the Golden Arrows technical area. Ncikazi is a former AmaZulu defender. He led Arrows to a club-record fourth-place finish in the 2020/21 season, then moved to Orlando Pirates.
In his earlier spell as Arrows head coach, Ncikazi faced AmaZulu twice in the league. His team won 2-0 in December 2020 and lost the return game 1-0 in May 2021.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.