Usuthu open league campaign with narrow win over Orbit

AmaZulu got their Betway Premiership campaign off to a winning start with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over newly-promoted Orbit College at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

Usuthu, still smarting from their five-goal thriller defeat to Stellenbosch in the MTN 8 last week, wasted little time asserting themselves against the league newcomers. 

The breakthrough arrived in the 24th minute when Nkosikhona Radebe’s low cross caused chaos in the Orbit defence, forcing goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane into a costly error as he fumbled the ball over his own line.

It was a moment that summed up Orbit’s nervy start to life in the top flight — hesitant at the back and unable to settle under AmaZulu’s high tempo. 

The hosts, in contrast, played with purpose and aggression from the outset, eager to set the tone for their season.

Arthur Zwane kept faith with the same back five from last week, while off-season signing Darren Johnson deputised for the absent Richards Ofori in goal. 

The defensive pairing of Keagan Allen and Taariq Fielies was particularly solid, snuffing out any hint of danger and ensuring Johnson had a relatively quiet debut.

Orbit’s best outlet was Monnapule Saleng, on loan from Orlando Pirates, whose pace and direct running occasionally troubled Usuthu down the flanks. 

But with minimal service and little support, Saleng’s influence faded as the match wore on.

The first half was one-way traffic, with AmaZulu dominating possession and territory, but the lack of a clinical touch in the final third kept Orbit in the contest.

The second stanza followed a similar pattern. Usuthu continued to push for a second goal, using the width of the pitch and the energy Zwane has been determined to instil in his squad. 

For 70 minutes they overran and outmuscled their visitors, yet the decisive blow remained elusive.

Seeking fresh impetus, Zwane introduced experienced midfielder Ben Motswari and lively winger Andiswa Sithole for Bongani Zungu and Hendrick Ekstein. 

The substitutions added more bite in midfield and pace out wide, but Orbit — perhaps encouraged by AmaZulu’s inability to kill the game — held firm to keep the scoreline respectable.

For Orbit, this was a sobering introduction to the rigours of the Betway Premiership. 

Their fairy-tale rise from lower league football brought plenty of optimism, but this performance will serve as a reminder of the step up in quality required to compete at this level.

AmaZulu, meanwhile, will take confidence from the victory and their defensive organisation, even if the margin should have been greater. 

The three points put them on the board early in the campaign, but Zwane will know sterner tests lie ahead — and so will Orbit.