In form AmaZulu have started the league like a house on fire, and Kaizer Chiefs have every reason to be wary of them when they visit the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
It’s a simple mission for the Durban outfit. Get as many points as possible on the road. And avoid the complex points marathon in the second half.
FARPost looks at some reasons why Amakhosi should be cautious when they play the KZN side in round six of the DStv Premiership.
Truter ‘master tactician’
AmaZulu has started the season on fire. Three wins, one loss and a draw have lit up their campaign. Usuthu, under the stewardship of Brandon ‘Brakkies’ Truter, have been shrewd and structured. Their dominance comes from a team well-drilled and in perfect sync with their abilities.
‘Brakkies’ has conjured a solid tactical plan. He emphasises collectivism and team harmony. The coach has managed to navigate between offensive thinking schemes and balanced defensive options. A characteristic three-man attack has been varied with deadly substitutions from the bench.
Strikers responding
All of the four AmaZulu strikers have responded to the league’s demands. Gabadinho Mhango has risen to the attacking tasks with superb goals. The Malawian has also been setting up his attacking mates to score as well.
Bonginkosi Ntuli has shrugged off his niggling injuries to contribute as well. On the other hand, both Augustine Kwem and Lehlohonolo Majoro have played their part in scoring crucial goals in the recent matches
Zwane’s tactical dilemma
Kaizer Chiefs have been inconsistent. In their last six official matches, winning three and losing three. To their credit, they have booked a spot in the MTN8 Cup semi-final after beating Stellenbosch United on penalties, and their confidence should be high.
The victory in the cup saw important tactical changes. Coach Arthur Zwane reverted to a 1-4-3-3 formation instead of the usual 1-3-5-2 system. This allowed Chiefs’ defensive stability, better command and tactical balance. Spaces exposed in the lateral corridors evaporated, and the defensive organisation looked better. Whether the coach will keep the system remains anyone’s guess.
Elephant in the room
Chiefs have been besieged by an inconsistent goalkeeping position. Uncharacteristic goalkeeping [errors and lack of command] was evident since the beginning of this campaign. Both Bruce Bvuma and Brandon Peterson failed to stamp their authority and the defensive wall crumbled in their presence.
Then, the elephant in the room emerged. In typical fashion, the experienced Itumeleng Khune came to the fore. An impressive performance against Stellenbosch in a cup has reignited Khune and Chiefs fans ahead of the AmaZulu match. And the elephant in the room has finally been recognised.
Battle for points
The two sides need points. Both sets of supporters will be demanding maximum points. AmaZulu want to cement their early title charge. Chiefs, on the other hand, want to win back-to-back matches for the first time this season. Still, we anticipate a battle for points for either side and for different ambitions.
Kickoff: 17:30 FNB Stadium.
