AmaZulu coach Brandon Truter’s efforts to take an advantage back to Moses Mabhida Stadium in the MTN8 semi-final against Kaizer Chiefs have been dealt a blow.
Truter will be without Bongi Ntuli when Usuthu face Chiefs in the first leg at FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Ntuli is nursing a knee injury. To add insult to injury to Usuthu, Truter will also be without Augustine Kwem, who is serving a ban after he was sent off against Chippa United two games ago, while Siphesihle Maduna, according to Truter, is in a “touch and go” situation.
However, this does open up opportunities for Lehlohonolo Majoro and Dumisani Zuma to start up top as a striking trio with Gabadinho Mhango on Sunday.
The latter duo will be motivated as Chiefs are their former clubs and more so to Zuma, who was released by Chiefs at the end of last season.
“Preparation so far has been good. Yes, we have been facing a mini injury crisis before our last game (against Mamelodi Sundowns),” said Truter.
“The international break has done us better and we welcomed it so that we can get more bodies and people will become available. Yes, we still have Kwem suspended, Ntuli with a knee injury, Maduna has a 50/50 chance if he will play.”
However, there’s always good news when things are bad, at times. Usuthu will welcome back Abbubaker Mobara. The former Cape Town City defender has missed the last two matches – against Chippa United and Sundowns respectively.
Interestingly, Mobara’s last appearance was against Chiefs in the league match that ended in a goalless draw early last month at FNB Stadium.
“We welcome back Mobara and we welcome back Rally Bwalya,” said Truter.
“For us at this moment, it’s good – it’s Chiefs at FNB Stadium. We saw what they did in the league encounter there [against SuperSport United] but they have changed things a bit with the new striker coming in [Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana] and we know he will pose a different threat and different dimension to the game.
“But we want to go there and get an advantage in the first leg.”
The second leg will take place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium later this month. The final will also take place at the 2010 World Cup semi final venue on 5 November.
Unlike Chiefs, Usuthu are in the semi of the Wafa Wafa Cup for the first time since the 2019/10 season. On that occasion, they lost to city rivals Golden Arrows, who went on to win the competition by thumping Ajax Cape Town by 6-0.
In this edition of iDiski Times, we assess the recent transfer window with iDiskiTV analyst Junior Khanye as well as former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns assistant Farouk Khan. We also look at Orlando Pirates’ new little magician with the long name, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and have an overview all transfers in the recent window. We bring you the details of Pitso Mosimane’s move to Al Ahli Saudi and chat with Morgan Mammal, who claims he is the head coach at Chippa United now. We also have a feature on in-form AmaZulu winger Nduduzo Sibiya and a whole lot more. Read the full edition of iDiski Times below:
