Arthur Zwane: AmaZulu proving their character in tough battles

AmaZulu head coach Arthur Zwane has applauded his side’s battling performance after nullifying Sekhukhune United in a fiery Betway Premiership clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night.

Usuthu took the lead through Thando Ngwenya’s first-half strike, but a late lapse saw Babina Noko claw back to snatch a 1-1 draw.

It was a bruising encounter that produced goals, an injury to goalkeeper Darren Johnson and a red card to captain Riaan Hanamub— all of which tested Zwane’s charges in hostile territory.

Despite the chaos, AmaZulu left Polokwane with a point that Zwane believes was earned through sheer grit. 

Speaking after the match, the coach praised his players for their willingness to fight under difficult circumstances.

“It was one of those games where a lot of things happened and sometimes you don’t even know what to do or say but sometimes I must give credit to the players who fought very hard,” said Zwane.

“We knew coming here that we’re playing against a team that’s top of the log and they had just been knocked out of the MTN8 so they were wounded and for them to redeem themselves, they would need to hurt us.”

Zwane’s words reflected both relief and frustration. While he admired his players’ resilience, he was equally aware of missed opportunities that could have put the contest beyond Sekhukhune.

“We could have gone to halftime leading 3-0, I’m not talking about half chances or the goal we scored and that was gonna give us a breather,” Zwane lamented.

“Second half, the plan was clear and we had 1v1s and we hit the crossbar and two other chances. But this is the case when you’re building a team. We got into places where we could’ve scored 4-5 goals and we didn’t, so it wasn’t to be and we take the point.”

It was another example of a transitional Usuthu side still learning to combine creativity with composure. 

Zwane has often stressed that AmaZulu’s rebuild will not be measured in single results but in the steady improvements they show against top opposition. Wednesday’s spirited display ticked that box.

The point also means AmaZulu remain unbeaten in Polokwane, where they will play their second consecutive away fixture this weekend. 

They next face Magesi in Seshego, a side smarting from their late defeat to Golden Arrows on Wednesday.

For Zwane, the challenge will be to sharpen his attack without losing the balance and determination that kept Sekhukhune at bay. His men showed they can be combative when circumstances demand it. 

Now they need to add the ruthless edge that turns hard-fought draws into decisive victories.

In the end, Zwane walked away encouraged but not satisfied — a sign of a coach who knows his team has the tools to deliver more.