AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane has bemoaned his team’s failure to take their opportunities against Stellenbosch FC at the Danie Craven Stadium.
Usuthu’s Top 8 chances were dealt a heavy blow with the 1-0 defeat to Stellies. Zwane felt that Stellenbosch were ripe for the picking as the home side’s thoughts were already focusing on their upcoming CAF Confederation Cup semi-final against Simba FC in Tanzania on Sunday.
Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker rested a host of stalwarts, including captain and goalkeeper Sage Stephens, while only introducing Devon Titus and Andre de Jong in the final quarter of the match.
🐍🟢⚪️ Our U19 team is in Cape Town for the Bayhill Premier Cup under the supervision of Coach Cele.#BayhillPremierCup #HebeUsuthu #UsuthuTogether pic.twitter.com/xWcIVS5CYk
— AmaZulu FC (@AmaZuluFootball) April 16, 2025
“For me, you'll never get Stellenbosch coming to you like this. You know, we should have capitalised,” Zwane said.
“You're playing against Stellenbosch that are thinking about playing in the semi-final. Because they want to go all the way to the final, which is good for the country.
“So, capitalise on that. Put them under pressure in such a way that you could see coach Steve was trying to make sure that he saves some of the players.
“And he lost one of his players. So, in their minds already, when they see one of their players going out, knowing that they're playing a very important game, then what do you do?
“Apply more pressure on them! They will panic. And they did actually, but we did not capitalise.”
Zwane handed teenager Bayanda Thabede a Betway Premiership debut at the Danie Craven Stadium and the 17-year-old certainly vindicated his coach’s faith with a fine display in the first half before tiring during the second period.
#Isagila #HebeUsuthu #UsuthuTogether pic.twitter.com/nfucXHkZ3o
The former Amakhosi tactician feels Thabede can develop into a stalwart at AmaZulu – similar to the way Titus has matured at Stellies.
“I think Bayana did very well,” Zwane said. “Obviously, the second half he was running out of steam and he made a few mistakes where he lost the ball cheaply.
“But it's one of those things. That's the only way he can learn. He's got so much quality. We saw in the first half he was giving us those half turns to penetrate. He was always looking forward.
“So now sometimes you ask yourself, you know, if players like this should have given him more time, more game time early in the season.
“But obviously we were in a situation where we needed to pull ourselves out of the danger zone at that time. So, this time around, you know, the opportunity.
“And also he's been doing well in the Diski team. He is an investment for AmaZulu.”
Thabede will be hoping for another opportunity when AmaZulu face Golden Arrows in the KwaZulu-Natal derby on Sunday.