Riaan Hanamub has made it clear that AmaZulu are not leaving their top-four ambitions to chance. The Usuthu captain has called for the right mentality and clinical finishing as the club enters the final stretch of what could be their most significant Betway Premiership campaign in several years. With seven games remaining, the Durban-based side are refusing to let the season slip away quietly.
AmaZulu currently sit fourth on the Betway Premiership log with 38 points, just one behind third-placed Kaizer Chiefs, who still have two games in hand. That buffer gives Chiefs a notable advantage in the race for continental qualification, but Usuthu are not writing themselves off. A fourth-place finish would still represent a massive statement from a club that has been rebuilding its identity at the top end of South African football.
When club president Sandile Zungu arrived, he was vocal about wanting AmaZulu to stand shoulder to shoulder with the so-called “Big Three” — Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns. It wasn’t just ambition for ambition’s sake. The club has the fanbase, the history, and now, increasingly, the squad to back it up. The last time Usuthu genuinely threatened at that level was during the 2020/21 season under Benni McCarthy, when they finished in a historic second place.
Now, under the guidance of coach Arthur Zwane, there’s a real belief in the camp that a strong finish is possible — but only if the players deliver when it counts.
AmaZulu’s Betway Premiership Ambitions Hinge on Clinical Finishing and Mental Strength
Hanamub was candid when reflecting on the club’s recent draw against Sekhukhune United, a result that he felt didn’t do justice to how well his side played. “We played tremendously well and created chances,” he said. “So, we need to make sure that we convert the opportunities we create.” It’s that fine margin between results and performances that Usuthu need to close — and quickly.
The captain also stressed the importance of keeping the group mentally sharp during what is historically the most gruelling part of the season. “We can’t rely on what we did earlier and think it will be easy,” Hanamub noted. He acknowledged that the character and collective mentality the squad shows will ultimately determine how far they go in the remaining fixtures.
AmaZulu’s next test comes on Saturday afternoon at Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, where they face TS Galaxy — known as Siwelele — at a 3pm kick-off. Usuthu head into the match as favourites, having beaten the same opponents 2-0 in the reverse fixture in Durban earlier in the season. But goalkeeper Olwethu Mzimela was quick to remind everyone that complacency has no place in their preparation.
“They are a different team now, and so are we,” Mzimela said, underlining that both sides have evolved since that first encounter. He emphasised that the squad is fully focused and understands exactly what is at stake with every remaining match. There’s a maturity in how Mzimela speaks about the challenge ahead — no arrogance, just awareness.
The goalkeeper also pointed to the atmosphere at Dr Molemela Stadium as a factor the team cannot afford to underestimate. Siwelele are notoriously difficult to beat on home soil, backed by a passionate and loud support base. “We need to stay united, support each other, and ensure that we get maximum points,” Mzimela said — a message as much for the dressing room as it is for the fans.
AmaZulu have done the hard work through the first half of the season to earn their place in this conversation. Whether they can maintain that position — and perhaps even improve on it — will depend entirely on the resolve they show over these final seven games. All signs suggest the belief is there. Now they just need the results to match it.