Top eight finish sparks belief at AmaZulu as Mthethwa urges team to aim higher

AmaZulu defender Sandile Mthethwa has called on his teammates to keep believing in their potential after Usuthu sealed a Top 8 finish for the first time in three seasons.

A 1-1 draw against Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday was enough for the KwaZulu-Natal outfit to end the campaign in sixth place — securing their return to the MTN8 competition next season.

Mthethwa, who walked away with the Player of the Match award, has grown in stature since his arrival in December, becoming a crucial part of coach Arthur Zwane’s defensive setup.

The 27-year-old joined AmaZulu midway through the season alongside Bongani Zungu, at a time when the team was rebuilding after a poor start under former coach Pablo Franco. With Zwane now steering the ship, Mthethwa has settled quickly and believes the current group has the potential to go beyond just top-eight finishes.

“Well I think we played well and perhaps deserved to win but unfortunately we didn’t,” said Mthethwa, after the draw with Pirates. “But we’re still happy because we were able to achieve this season’s mandate after we realised we couldn’t get a top three spot.”

AmaZulu’s season took a sharp turn following the technical changes, with Zwane bringing stability and clarity to a squad that had been underperforming in the early months. Mthethwa, who has marshalled the backline with calmness and consistency, believes the core of the team is ready to push for more in the next campaign.

“We’re a team that’s looking to challenge for the league at some point and also go back to CAF,” he continued. “I think we’re capable of that looking at the kind of players we have and I genuinely believe that we can do that sort of thing moving forward.”

The defender also acknowledged the experienced heads in the squad and credited the technical staff for their belief in the players.

“We have a good group of experienced players that I found when I got here with the addition of Bongani (Zungu),” Mthethwa added.

“We should also give credit to the coach who keeps believing in us and is always reminding us to believe that we can achieve those levels. I’m confident next season we will return a different club.”

Saturday’s match also marked a significant moment for goalkeeper Andile Mbanjwa, who made his Premiership debut at age 27 after coming on to replace an injured Richard Ofori.

Mbanjwa, who had been third in the pecking order and hadn’t featured in the top flight since joining AmaZulu two seasons ago, was emotional as he reflected on the opportunity.

“It was good to get a chance today,” he said.

“I’ve been with AmaZulu for two seasons, when the club signed me, I didn’t have a team but I was given a chance by coach Pablo. But I didn’t make the team much and for me to get my chance against Pirates was overwhelming but I’m just humbled and happy at the same time.”

AmaZulu will look to build on this strong finish as they begin planning for next season — with renewed optimism and a sense of direction under Zwane.