Zwane expects tactical test from Hunt in Carling Knockout tie

AmaZulu head coach Arthur Zwane says he is preparing for a tactical guessing game against his former mentor Gavin Hunt when Usuthu visit Stellenbosch FC in the Carling Knockout quarter-final on Sunday, according to IOL.

The match is at Danie Craven Stadium, with kickoff set for 6pm.

Wary of a wounded Stellies

AmaZulu go into the tie in good form and have already taken three points off Stellenbosch earlier this season. Zwane, however, would not let that breed comfort. Stellies are coming off a 2-0 home defeat to Chippa United, and he expects them to respond strongly on home turf.

Zwane served as Hunt’s senior assistant at Kaizer Chiefs, and he says that experience means he knows how adaptable the Stellenbosch coach is. Speaking at the club’s media open day at their Kings Park Stadium training base on Thursday, he called it “a very tough cup match” against a hard-running side.

“As we stand, we don’t know whether he’s going to come with three at the back or four,” Zwane said. He pointed to a Stellenbosch squad with many youngsters and plenty of energy, and said he learned a great deal from Hunt as his understudy. He added that Hunt can vary his approach, from early crosses and combination play to working off second balls.

Zwane also pushed back on the idea that Stellenbosch are only a counter-attacking side. He said the two teams share similar principles, such as exploiting space, getting the ball quickly into the assist zones and forcing the opposition into mistakes. In his view, only the system is different.

Chemistry over peaking early

AmaZulu are third in the table after a strong run of results. Zwane dismissed talk that they might have peaked too early, saying the team’s biggest weapon is chemistry. He said that, unlike last season, when the loss of key players hurt progress, the same faces have been there from game one, and changes are limited to one, two or three players when forced.

He still wants to be seen as the underdog on Sunday. “We like the tag of being underdogs,” Zwane said, adding that the team is mentally strong and wants to “normalise winning at AmaZulu”.

What to remember

• Match: Stellenbosch FC v AmaZulu FC, Carling Knockout quarter-final
• Venue: Danie Craven Stadium
• Kickoff: Sunday, 6pm

This story is based on reporting by IOL.