Philani Zulu says Kaizer Chiefs face a tough challenge on Wednesday when they host AmaZulu in the DStv Premiership.
Zulu says Chiefs are still smarting after their exit from the Nedbank Cup, and with the loss to Richards Bay their last competitive game, they are looking to bounce back against Usuthu.
But he also knows it will be a tough fixture against the team who are currently two places ahead of the Amakhosi.
AmaZulu are 7th on the table on 22 points, while Chiefs are 9th, four points behind.
“I mean, looking at how we played in the last game getting knocked out of the Nedbank Cup, it was sad it’s a saddening thing to just go through,” Zulu told Chiefs’ media.
“And now it’s up to us to just pick up our feet and look forward to the game on Wednesday against AmaZulu, it’s not going to be an easy game. I mean, they were playing on Sunday, and now they have that momentum going forward. And we haven’t been playing since the previous game in the Nedbank Cup. So it’s all up to us as players, just keep our feet on the ground and our heads up high and just continue working hard looking forward to the next game.”
Chiefs picked up a win against AmaZulu at the start of 2021, but Zulu says Benni McCarthy’s team have made a lot of progress since that meeting.
“It’s going to be a different ball game, because now they have more confidence. And they play well as a team going forward. They can keep the ball I mean, they’re a very structured team, and even more offensive than they were before. So it’s up to us to bring our A game, just as much as they are going to be on their top. So we have to match them me in every way. And we are very much prepared.”
Zulu is also trying to take the positives from not having played this weekend, after the CAF Champions League game against Wydad Casablanca was postponed.
“As much as it was a blunder for us not to go and play in the CAF, it gave us also a bit more time to reflect on ourselves and to prepare more as a team. Because we needed that. And given the time that we had. We are looking good, then we’re looking forward to giving our best, as we prepared during the week.”