AmaZulu’s Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya says opponents are targeting him

AmaZulu forward Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya says opposing teams are paying particular attention to him after his outstanding start to the 2026/27 campaign.

The Zimbabwean striker has scored 10 goals in 10 matches, but was unable to add to that tally in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium. Hendrick Ekstein’s penalty was enough to send Usuthu into the Carling Knockout quarter-finals.

Ngwenya told SABC Sport that opponents were now working specifically on limiting his influence as AmaZulu attempt to sustain their strong run of form.

“Everyone is preparing for me but it’s gonna give others a chance to score because everyone is coming for me. Coach Arthur Zwane is someone who demands a lot, so he always tells me to always watch those strikers and to have effect. To get in the field I must be mentally strong because everyone is gonna be on me,” Ngwenya said.

The 24-year-old acknowledged that he may need to change his approach as defenders become more familiar with the way he has been scoring.

“It’s a bit demanding now because I have to find another way to penetrate because everyone is looking for how I’m scoring, so I must find another way to score. Maybe I was not doing it correctly, so you have to give other people a chance,” he added.

Ngwenya’s difficulty in making an impact against Kruger United led AmaZulu manager Arthur Zwane to substitute him early in the second half.

Zwane said the striker had been presented with opportunities in the opening stages but had been too slow to react, including on an occasion when Sibiya was able to recover after being outpaced.

“You know Thando is the type of a player that does well when he gets a goal early in the game. He had about two early in the game, the first one was flicked into his path and he reacted slowly. The second one also his reaction was very, very slow and I believe the one that Sibiya had to recover when he outsprinted him,” Zwane explained.

The coach also used the match to highlight the decisions Ngwenya must make when a defender approaches from the right.

“You can’t push the ball and expose your ball to the right when the defender is coming from the right side. Put it to your left and put your body across, if he commits, you can get a foul, you understand what I’m saying. So, those ones you take, you make them count,” Zwane said.