Lamontville Golden Arrows captain Thabani Zuke is in line to play for the first time this season after recovering from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Zuke, 25, has been out for some time after picking up a vicious knee injury against Kaizer Chiefs last season on 31 December.
He has been sidelined since then, with Nduduzo Sibiya and Knox Mutizwa inter-changing in taking the skipper role.
Coach Mabhuti Khenyeza confirmed that his captain is fit to start for the side, as he has been back to team training for some time ahead of their Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final against AmaZulu at the at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday (19:00).
Despite not having Zuke, Arrows have been doing well, having started the season with flying colours, sitting second on the DStv Premiership table with 20 points after nine matches, just four points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Durban-based side have only suffered one defeat, which inevitably came against Sundowns.
Of course Zuke is happy to see Arrows doing well but the challenge he is facing is to reclaim his place back in the side.
“There is pressure, but at the same time I don’t have to personally think about myself because everything is about the team,” said Zuke at training on Tuesday.
“Even though the pressure is on me to get back, I don’t have to put myself first. Everyone can see the team is doing well in all the departments even those in the bench are doing well when they are called upon.
“But everything hinges around me on how much I want to get back in the team. But as everyone knows, the injury that I had is the hardest in sport.”
Zuke, whose Arrows will be meeting AmaZulu for the first time in this competition, has explained why the ship did not sink after the surprising departure of co-coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi to Chippa United last month.
“You have to credit that to the players because there was a time when coach Mabhuti left for the launch of Carling after Vilakazi had left and assistant Musa Bilankulu was left behind conducting the training, but everyone was working hard,” said Zuke.
