Ben Motshwari of AmaZulu celebrates scoring against Supersport United on Saturday at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Photo: BackpagePix
AmaZulu co-coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi believes the club has restored their belief within their fanbase following their win against SuperSport United.
Usuthu put on a resilient performance to edge Matsatsantsa with a late Ben Motswari strike deciding the match in Durban on Saturday. The KwaZulu Natal-based outfit ensured their return to winning ways in the Betway Premiership following a five-nil hammering at the hands of Stellenbosch two weeks ago.
Sanibonani Ekuseni 👋🏾😊🌅#BetwayPrem #HebeUsuthu pic.twitter.com/9LMx9s9CBq
— AmaZulu FC (@AmaZuluFootball) February 2, 2025
Before returning to league action, AmaZulu shook off that heavy defeat by thumping third-tier side Mighty Eagles in the Nedbank Cup. Vilakazi embraced that their loss against Stellies was a dark day in the club's books and in their fanbase and something they've been looking to put right.
Speaking after their match against Matsatsantsa at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, ‘Kanu’ as he is affectionately known, expressed that he felt his team had put things right with their supporters.
“When we played against Stellenbosch we embarrassed them and as supporters, they were not proud of supporting us after that. But we bounced back even if it was against a lower team, we apologized to them but I think this was a proper apology,” he said.
AmaZulu also put an end to a bad run at home in the league having lost three and drew one of their last four games at home. The last time they won in their backyard was when they beat Royal AM in December, a Mlondi Mbanjwa second-half goal the difference.
🏆🟢⚪️ A goal and an assist this evening for Rowan Human. He is the #BetwayPrem Man of the Match.#ThatsPower #HebeUsuthu #UsuthuTogether pic.twitter.com/T5r8Afmm8n
— AmaZulu FC (@AmaZuluFootball) February 1, 2025
“I think it has always been a worrying factor for us. Honestly, when we are playing at home, we find ourselves disappointed. But when we are away, the players, I don't know whether they feel free and stuff like that,” he said.
“So I think going forward, it's something that we need to make sure and can improve in terms of making sure, because when, when supporters are here, we can't disappoint them.”
Now in ninth place on the league standings, Usuthu will look ahead to a huge clash against Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday. Vilakazi expressed that although he would be eager for the upcoming game, their latest win would serve their confidence levels well for the rest of the season.
“It was very important that we won this game, not particularly focusing on our next game but we needed to focus on this one and take it one game at a time,” he said.
“We needed that game against Eagles after we suffered against Stellies so we can raise our morale for this one and keep building the confidence and momentum onto the next one as well.”
A victory against fifth-placed Amakhosi could see Usuthu leapfrog their next opponents on the table and reinvigorate their top eight aspirations.