
AmaZulu co-coach Arthur Zwane recognizes that Bongani Zungu is still working on enhancing his fitness, yet, given the limited time for adequate preparation for match fitness, they have no choice but to field him in official matches.
Zungu netted the decisive goal as Usuthu clinched a 1-0 victory over Magesi at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in the Betway Premiership on Saturday.
The 32-year-old, who signed with Usuthu in December after becoming a free agent following his exit from Mamelodi Sundowns at the end of the previous season, received a well-placed pass from Usuthu’s standout player, Hendrick Ekstein, before skillfully guiding the ball past Magesi goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.
This victory lifted Usuthu into the top eight with 16 points from 13 matches, tying them with Stellenbosch in seventh place, though Steve Barker’s team has two games in hand.
“There’s no question that Bongani is a talented player,” Zwane commented.
“He possesses extensive experience and has played at the highest levels for a considerable time.
“Our focus is to assist him in his development, as we know he will be crucial for us moving forward. Regrettably, finding friendly matches to facilitate this development is quite challenging.
“We adhere to our return-to-play protocols, but due to the lack of friendly match opportunities, we are forced to include him in official games.
“We encounter several difficulties, such as unpredictable weather and occasionally flooded pitches. That’s why I commend the effort our players put in to secure these results; it has not been an easy path.
“I am incredibly proud of them; their commitment is something we take great pride in.”
This marked Zungu’s first league goal in almost two years, with his last one ironically scored against AmaZulu while he was still with Sundowns in April 2023 at Princess Magogo Stadium, ending in a 2-2 draw.
As Usuthu achieved victory over the bottom-placed Magesi, a notable change was observed in their goalkeeping roster, with Veli Mothwa replacing Richards Ofori.
Ofori, who had been the first-choice goalkeeper since his arrival at Usuthu in October, was substituted following Mothwa’s return, having last played in a 2-1 defeat to Polokwane City at the same stadium in September, where he made a critical error leading to the winning goal.
Zwane clarified that the rotation of goalkeepers is intended to foster healthy competition among them.
“We struggle to find friendly matches,” Zwane pointed out. “Considering Mothwa and Ofori, we are fortunate to have three excellent goalkeepers. Andile Mbanjwa is also in the mix.
“Veli has been part of the national setup for many years and has performed exceptionally for the club.
“Ofori has also shown remarkable form; he was sidelined due to injury but made a strong comeback. The competition for that spot is intense.
“We believe every player merits a chance to play, and Veli has been working hard in training, maintaining a positive attitude despite not being on the pitch. We decided to give him an opportunity and evaluate how it goes, ensuring all players remain at a competitive standard.”
Usuthu will take a short break, with their next fixture against Stellenbosch at King Zwelithini Stadium on January 21.