AmaZulu and Golden Arrows meet in KZN derby with league momentum at stake

AmaZulu will host Lamontville Golden Arrows in a KwaZulu-Natal derby on Saturday, with local bragging rights and an important set of Premiership points on offer at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu.

The fixture follows a successful weekend for both teams in the Carling Knockout. AmaZulu secured a 1-0 win over Kruger United, while Arrows recorded a convincing 4-0 victory against Chippa United to reach the quarter-finals.

Their cup progress has set up difficult assignments in the next round. AmaZulu, also known as Usuthu, will face Stellenbosch FC, while Golden Arrows have been drawn against league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

AmaZulu go into the derby in stronger league form. They are third in the Premiership table with 19 points after winning their last four matches. Arrows are eighth on eight points and will be seeking a response after losing their most recent domestic fixture to surprise package Milford.

The recent rivalry record also favours the hosts. AmaZulu are unbeaten in the last four league meetings between the sides, winning two and drawing two.

The match will also mark the return of Mandla Ncikazi to the Golden Arrows technical area. Ncikazi, a former AmaZulu defender, previously led Abafana Bes’thende to a club-record fourth-place finish in the 2020/21 season before leaving for Orlando Pirates.

During his earlier spell as Arrows head coach, Ncikazi faced AmaZulu twice in the league. His side won 2-0 in December 2020, but AmaZulu claimed the return match 1-0 in May 2021.

AmaZulu’s players have played down the relevance of recent form and cup results once the derby begins, with midfielder Siyanda Hlangabeza highlighting the responsibility they feel towards their supporters.

“Obviously, going to the game, it’s a big game, KZN derby… There will be a lot of challenges, but the energy is very clear. We want to go out there with a mindset of winning and getting maximum points. Arrows is a good team; they are doing well right now… We aren’t just doing this for ourselves, but for the name of the club and the supporters.”

Goalkeeper Olwethu Mzimela said AmaZulu must quickly move beyond their cup success and refocus on their league campaign.

“What makes this match even more exciting is that it’s a derby, and both teams are coming off advancing in the cup. But now we need to shift our focus back to the league and make sure we pick up right where we left off. A cup game and a league match are completely different scenarios… It’s vital for us to win so we can keep up our momentum in the league,” he said.

Kick-off is scheduled for 6pm on Saturday at Princess Magogo Stadium.