AmaZulu target fast start

by Staff Reporter

Friday Aug 02, 2019. 13:08

AmaZulu will target a fast start to the 2019/20 Absa Premiership season when they host Bidvest Wits at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday 3 August 2019, kick-off at 20h15.

AmaZulu ended last season with a 3-1 loss away to Bloemfontein Celtic on May 11, a result which saw them finish in 11th place on the log. They recorded 10 wins, seven draws and 13 defeats for a haul of 31 points (including a points deduction).

Usuthu claimed 27 points (not taking into account the points deduction) at home last season: P15 W7 D6 L2.

Wits ended last season with a 1-0 win at Golden Arrows on May 11, a result which saw them finish in third place on the log. They recorded 16 wins, six draws and eight defeats for a haul of 54 points.

The Clever Boys claimed 31 points away from home last season: P15 W9 D4 L2. One of their two losses on the road last season came against AmaZulu.

In head-to-head stats, AmaZulu and Wits have met in 57 league matches since 1985. The Clever Boys have claimed 22 wins compared to 15 for Usuthu, while 20 matches have been drawn. The Durban side has won 10 of 28 home matches against their Johannesburg counterparts, suffering six defeats in the process.

Last season Wits won their home match 3-0 in August 2018, thanks to goals from Gift Motupa, Mxolisi Machupu and Simon Murray, while the return game in Durban in March 2019 saw AmaZulu triumph 2-0 with strikes from Bongi Ntuli and Ovidy Karuru.

AmaZulu’s line-up from their 2-0 win over Bidvest Wits: Mbatha, Sikhakhane, Ouro-Akoriko, Nyongo, Mabiliso, Chawapiwa (Ntsundwana 45′), Sithebe, Ncube, Vilakazi, Karuru (Morton 90+3′), Ntuli (Cele 79′).

Wits’ line-up from their 2-0 loss to AmaZulu: Keet, Hlatshwayo, Johannes, Hlanti, Hotto (Pelembe 65′), Mzwakali (Dzvukamanja 79′), Monare, Alexander, Claasen (Majoro 55′), Lakay, Motupa.