Arthur Zwane: PSL six-pointer against Polokwane City like a cup final for AmaZulu

AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane has described their penultimate Premiership clash against Polokwane City in Umlazi as the game of their lives.

Usuthu will host City at King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday night (7.30pm kick-off) eager to bag all three points.

This will not only be their penultimate game of the season, but one that could help them finish in the top eight after blowing hot and cold this campaign.

AmaZulu have been their worst enemies this season as they dropped points that they were expected to bag, before beating Golden Arrows recently.

As such, they are sixth on the log with 33 points, one ahead of the seventh-placed City, who still have a game in hand.

So, should they ensure that they keep all points in Durban on Friday night, they’ll all but buy themselves some breathing space from City, who also want to finish in the top eight.

Speaking to the club’s media unit on Thursday, ‘10111’ acknowledged they can’t afford to slip up when they face Rise and Shine, who are their direct competitors.

“For me, this is the most important game of our season. It’s like a cup final for us,” Zwane explained.

“It’s a six-pointer. We are playing against a team that has got one game in hand. We are only leading them by a one-point difference.

“We know that the only time we can be able to consolidate our position for now is to get maximum. It’s a fact. All the players are aware of that.

“We have to face the fact that we have let ourselves down on a number of occasions this season.

“So, it’s high time we turn things around. We need to show character in this game.”

Zwane is in his second job as the sole head coach of a first team, having assumed that role after his then-co-coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi resigned earlier this year.

But despite his relative inexperience, Zwane has always been an advocate of players leaving their sweat and blood on the pitch.

After being demoted by Kaizer Chiefs after a relatively below-par first season at the helm, his admirers felt that he wasn’t given enough time to prove himself.

Zwane, though, has continued to demand the very best from his team. And that’s why he feels they can’t crash out of the running to qualify for next season’s MTN8 now.

“We are not putting the players under pressure, but those are the demands of this level because we can’t be blowing hot and cold,” Zwane said.

“This is a six-pointer, and a game that will test our character as to whether we are a good enough team to be at this level.

“We need to finish in a better position, even though we are in a better position compared to last season, in which at this time, we were playing to avoid relegation.”

Zwane’s vision for Usuthu aligns with that of club president Sandile Zungu, who said he wants the team to be a top-four side season in and season out.

But while that is a far-fetched dream for this season as they won’t surpass the 41-point tally of the fourth-placed Stellenbosch FC, Zwane believes a top-eight finish could still serve as a consolation.

“We need to play for our people, families and everyone that has been cheering us up through thick and thin, as they never lost hope or gave up on us,” Zwane said.

“If there’s one thing that we have to do, it is to thank them through this game. That’s the message that I am going to drive to the players regularly.”