DURBAN - Cavin Johnson is confident that AmaZulu have what it takes to fight and survive relegation. Usuthu are at the foot of the table with three points after eight games.
They were dealt a blow a couple of weeks ago when they were docked six points for breaching the Fifa rules. Johnson is impressed about how his troops have reacted following the setback of losing six points.
“Yes, the boys have shown the fighting spirit. When you handle a football team and you handle them with a lot of passion towards the game, you will get this kind of good attitude that they are showing.
"The horse is getting fitter. The horse is thinking fast and the horse is running fast. The team is getting better. We have to make sure that they stay in that level. Whether you change them or you don’t change them, they know that they have to fight to get to better position."
Usuthu have been relegated many times in the Premier Soccer League era. Last season they defeated the odds to finish in the top eight but they were kicked out because of the Tendai Ndoro saga.
Usuthu began the last season as the relegation candidates after buying the status of Thanda Royal Zulu but worked hard to solidify their place in top flight football. This past weekend they held Orlando Pirates to a 1-1 stalemate at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi in Durban. “My players are doing this for football. Football will tell who is the next champion not something else. We will fight hard to cement our place in the league,” he added.
AmaZulu haven’t shown any sign of succumbing to pressure after they were docked points. They shared the spoils in back to back home matches against Maritzburg United and Pirates.
#TKO2018 Last 16 Date:
23 October, Tuesday at King Zwelithini Stadium. KO:19:30. @AmaZuluFootball VS @CapeTownCity.
Tickets available on sale soon. #TKO2018 #DurbanHasMore #UkhoziFM #Usuthu_Unite pic.twitter.com/7a0vP8MaCF
— AmaZulu FC (@AmaZuluFootball) October 11, 2018
“I have no doubt about the quality of my players. For me football is played in the field of play. That’s what football is all about. Whatever happens outside of football doesn’t bother my players,” Johnson elaborated.
Usuthu will face Mamelodi Sundowns at Ulundi Stadium in the Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Cup tomorrow at 3pm. PSL teams are on Fifa break and they are using this space to play friendly matches.