Matchday 18 - preview
Thanda Royal Zulu FC - Amazulu
DURBAN, January 31 (Absa Premier League) – There is plenty at stake for both Thanda Royal Zulu and Amazulu when the two sides meet in the Absa Premier League this week, with both clubs knowing all too well the value of taking three points at the Mpumalanga Stadium on Sunday.
Apart from being a local derby, the two Durban sides have failed to win in three outings each since the turn of the year, with the home side on the wrong side of results against Platinum Stars, Kaizer Chiefs and most recently, Bloemfontein Celtic, who handed them a 6-1 hammering last Sunday.
The visitors’ torrid start to 2009 included defeats to Free State Stars, Platinum Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns, but Amabhubesi coach Roger Palmgren is not reading anything into those losses and expects another tough encounter in Hammersdale.
“I rate Amazulu very highly,” he said. “We’ve never beat them in the league, so it’s definitely time for us now to do something. There are a strong team with lots of good players and a great coach.”
Asked whether our boys were still feeling the after effects of their stunning loss to Celtic, Palmgren continued: “I think that was more of a turning point or a result that could sort of help us turn the corner.
“I think the boys are now upset, more angry, but also more focussed. This has been the case all week, they are very focussed and very angry about the performance and result that they had in the last game. So we can now use that as a motivating factor going forward.”
“Off course it’s not good to have conceded that many goal, but big teams can also lose like this. The only thing you can do as a coach and as players is to forget about it, stay focussed and concentrate on getting the mental aspect of the players correct for the next game.”
Good news for the coach is the availability of the entire squad with neither any injuries nor suspensions to report.
Similarly, Clive Barker’s team are close to having everyone present, bar goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje who is suspended.
Usuthu team manager James Dlamini was also quick to point out the importance of the three points.
He said: “We are actually expecting a very tough game. They are a very good team, who’ve been unlucky. If you look at the game against Kaizer Chiefs, the way they played, they should have won. Then against Celtic they had an off day and were punished.
“But we ourselves have been playing very good football, but unfortunately conceding silly goals. I think both of us will want this win too much.
“The fact that it is a derby will make it even more interesting. But we respect each other and we will go the game knowing that Thanda are a good side.