AmaZulu captain Makhehleni Makhaula has said coach Brandon Truter has advised Usuthu players to banish negativity from their loss to Chippa United, yet learn from the same defeat.
Makhaula said this in a post-match interview with the club’s media ahead of their crunch DStv Premiership away meeting with leaders Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday.
The captain said the mood in camp after the 2-1 loss to Chippa last weekend was that of utter collective disappointment.
TRUTER’s WORDS…
“The team was not happy. The players were not happy,” he said.
Makhaula, however, said Truter has advised the players to dust themselves off and avoid lingering negativity from that loss.
“The coach has emphasized that we should forget that game and fix whatever was happening on the field of play that day.
“The coach is encouraging us not to do the same mistakes we did against Chippa,” he said.
WHO IS IN AND OUT?
He said they had done their home-work, with preparations being boosted by the availability of all regulars, including scorer-in-chief Gabadinho Mhango.
Mhango missed the game against Chippa due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
“The mood is okay. We are playing well. Everyone is back.
“Those ones who were injured, those ones who were not available against Chippa United, our key players [are back],” Makhaula said.
Of course, the only notable absentee in this game for the KwaZulu Natal-based team is striker Augustine Kwame who picked a red card in the game against Chippa.
The AmaZulu skipper admitted that facing the DStv Premiership holders would be a mighty task.
“I think it is going to be an interesting game and a very difficult one because we are playing away from home,” he added.
STRUGGLES AGAINST LOWLY RANKED TEAMS
AmaZulu go into the match while lying fifth on the log table with 11 points from seven games, five points behind the leaders who have played one game more.
Usuthu tend to raise their game when up against a high-profile teams and drop points when meeting opposition in the lower end of the table.
Little wonder, AmaZulu’s two league defeats this season have come from lowly-ranked teams on the log table, including Golden Arrows.
SUNDOWNS IN FORM
On the other hand, Masandawana are not only topping the table but they also have Golden Boot favourite Peter Shalulile in his true elements, netting six goals in eight games.
Shalulile is three goals ahead of Mhango, a rival he once shared the Golden Boot Award with on 16 goals apiece when the latter was on the books of Highland Park.
The Namibian was on target when Sundowns saw off Arrows 2-1 last weekend.
However, Sundowns will miss the services of Aubrey Modiba who is suspended from Sunday’s game.
Last season, AmaZulu beat Sundowns 1-0 at home and lost by a similar margin away to the defending champions.
The game between Sundowns and AmaZulu kicks off at 3pm CAT.
