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Castle Premiership side AmaZulu will be hoping for a change in fortune when they take on Pretoria University in the second leg of the Mvela Platinum Play-offs Final at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 3.15pm).
'Usuthu' had good goal-scoring chances to kill the game when the two teams met in the first leg at Pretoria's Loftus Stadium on Wednesday, but the match ended in a 0-0 draw. \ AmaZulu team manager James Dlamini admits that his team's performance was not up to scratch, but he was quick to point out that they had not conceded a goal, giving them an excellent opportunity of closing off the contest at home.
"I just have to admit that we should have won the match. For us it was a case of seeing how they play and now we know. We did not play their way, and we should have, but we know that we are guaranteed a full crowd at home and we will win," a confident Dlamini told the Pretoria News.
Dlamini added that AmaZulu's Brazilian coach, Julio Cesal Leal, achieved one of his two pre-game mandates. "The coach told the players to do two things - keep a clean sheet and score one goal, but they failed to do the latter. We will win at home," said Dlamini.
Meanwhile, 'AmaTuks' will be without suspended defender Bongani Khumalo, who picked up a third booking in their goalless draw on Wednesday.
Khumalo has been a key player for 'AmaTuks' and has marshalled their defence well all season.
"Khumalo has been a good servant for the club, but we also have players who can play that role," said 'AmaTuks' coach Sammy Troughton.
"We know we will be playing in front of a hostile crowd and it will not be an easy task at all." He added: "We missed a lot of scoring chances at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.
AmaZulu came here to defend and they succeeded in frustrating us by hanging on until full-time."
Troughton, however, warned AmaZulu that the contest was not over yet... Far from it, in fact.
"Everyone thought that drawing against Winners Park was the end. We are not necessarily taking a negative approach.
"We will be playing a game that will change our lives for the better. I know that they are beatable," said Troughton. |
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