AmaZulu co-coach Arthur Zwane recognizes that the encounter with Royal AM will pose a challenge, but they are ready and will implement a new tactic for this match.

Usuthu will welcome their rivals, Thwihli Thwahla, in the Betway Premiership showdown at King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday (19:30).

Zwane underscored that this forthcoming match is unlikely to be easy and they aim to adopt a different game plan, since the opponent has already examined their strengths and weaknesses from the earlier game against TS Galaxy.

“Derby games tend to be unpredictable, and we’re up against a formidable opponent—a team that has been showing good form,” Zwane remarked.

“They proved their resilience by coming back from a 2-0 deficit against Kaizer Chiefs to secure a point away. That comeback will surely fuel their motivation, and they consistently pose a threat.”

“Overall, I think we are ready and always strive to be prepared. Nevertheless, these matches can be unpredictable as we aim for maximum points. Playing at home offers an advantage, and I can feel that the players are excited for this game.”

“I’m confident they have carefully analyzed our strengths and weaknesses. We will implement a different approach while playing at home, and there’s certainly room for improvement.”

Meanwhile, the former Chiefs coach noted that in their last match against TS Galaxy, despite performing well, they struggled to convert opportunities into goals.

“The primary focus is on redemption. We weren’t poor in our previous match against TS Galaxy; we simply lacked the finishing precision,” he explained.

“Enhancing this aspect will be crucial, and we have discussed it with the coach [Vusumuzi Vilakazi]. Compared to our performance against Richards Bay, we didn’t execute as effectively.”

Zwane expressed his wish to build on the momentum from their last game against Bay before facing TS Galaxy. “We intend to continue from where we left off in our last match against TS Galaxy,” Zwane said.

“Upon reviewing our performance, some players struggled in the first half while others faced challenges in the second half, but our substitutions helped us improve our game.”

“There are many positives within the squad; we just need to be more clinical in front of goal. We must also be cautious about losing possession cheaply, particularly in critical areas, and avoid giving up goals at the end of either half.”

Zwane’s team is currently in 14th place in the Betway Premiership after seven matches, with a total of six points. In comparison, Thwihli Thwahla occupies 12th place with eight points after nine league games.