AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco Martin is determined to see the Durban club reach its first final of the League Cup in the PSL.
But standing in their way in TS Galaxy who they host at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in the Carling Knockout semifinal on Sunday afternoon.
Usuthu have come close to reaching the final of the competition in the 2009/10 season, losing to Cape Town Spurs (now Cape Town Spurs), with the Mother City club losing 2-1 to Kaizer Chiefs at Kings Park Stadium, the venue across the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Interestingly, what makes this an attraction to Usuthu is that the final of this year’s competition in its inaugural will be played in the club’s home venue on 16 December at the Moses Mabhida and coach Martin emphasised that they have a responsibility to perform and reach the final, but this doesn’t necessarily add pressure but a duty.
“I’m not sure about the pressure,” said Martin when asked on being under pressure since the final will be played at their home ground.
“I have won most semifinals, I lost one. I would like to play in the final, win another final. But pressure, no. The players, I’m talking to some of them, no pressure at all. Why? We have lost one game (at home against Stellenbosch FC over the weekend) and people think we are superior; we are not and check the numbers (to back that up).
“We will play the final in case we are qualifying – that will be better for us because in my opinion, our fans can come and see us in an easy way than to travel. But from there, no pressure, but it is a responsibility, desire, ambition. I want to win of course, and the players want to win.
“We are going to do everything to win the semifinal and to play another final here. But this is football and now we are doing well, and we have this huge opportunity probably none of you guys being honesty that five weeks ago was thinking of this team qualifying for semifinal especially when you saw the first draw against Kaizer Chiefs.”
Usuthu beat Chiefs 1-0 in the first round before trouncing Lamontville Golden Arrows 3-0 in the quarter finals, and they are yet to ship in a goal, unlike Galaxy.
Usuthu won this cup in 1992 when it was known as the Coca-Cola Cup at the old FNB Stadium when they beat Amakhosi 3-1.
