Amazulu

Augustine Mulenga of AmaZulu during the 2021 MTN8 quarter final match between AmaZulu and Cape Town City at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, on 15 August 2021 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Amazulu Starting XI prediction vs Big Bullets -Friday 10 September 2021

Amazulu begin their first Caf Champions League campaign on Friday when they host Big Bullets in the preliminary round first leg.

Amazulu

Augustine Mulenga of AmaZulu during the 2021 MTN8 quarter final match between AmaZulu and Cape Town City at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, on 15 August 2021 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Amazulu begin their first Caf Champions League campaign on Friday when they host Big Bullets in the preliminary round first leg.

Usuthu have reinforced their ranks in the transfer window with a view to preparing to compete on multiple fronts, making predicting their starting lineup that much harder.

Amazulu starting XI prediction

Having returned from the Bafana Bafana camp, free of injury it stands to reason that Veli Mothwa will start in goal for Amazulu as they begin the biggest campaign in the club’s history.

Veli Mothwa
Veli Mothwa (Goalkeeper) of AmaZulu during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 game between AmaZulu and TS Galaxy at Kings Park Stadium on 24 April 2021 © Steve Haag/BackpagePix

Philani Zulu has made the left back position his own at Amazulu and we can expect him to patrol that flank while Thembela Sikhakhane has been equally ever-present in a fullback role on the right.

Tapelo Xoki is most likely to take up the centre back role but the question of who will partner him is a subject of conjecture. Tercious Malepe is probably shading Samkelo Mgwazela who started Amazulu’s defeats to Cape Town City and Sundowns. Malepe has the edge on experience and recently went to his second Olympic games.

Amazulu
Tapelo Xoki of AmaZulu during the DStv Premiership 2021/22 match between Mamelodi Sundowns and AmaZulu at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, on 20 August 2021 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

In midfield, the question is will Benni McCarthy swamp the middle of the park in a bid to avoid giving up an away goal or will he opt to play two up front and go for the knockout blow.

With Luvoyo Memela back to full fitness, McCarthy is more like to field a 4-4-2 with the winger bombing up the left touchline.

Siyethemba Sithebe is likely to start on the opposite wing while McCarthy has more options in the engine room.

Amazulu vs Swallows
Siyethemba Sithebe of AmaZulu during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 game between AmaZulu and Swallows FC at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on 2 June 2021 © Steve Haag/BackpagePix

Keagan Buchanan has been subbed off in both the matches he has played so far this season and appears a little off the pace for a clash of this magnitude. That opens the door for Makhehlene Makhaula and Matarr Ceesay to continue to build on their union.

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Up front we expect McCarthy to go for broke but with Bongi Ntuli’s fitness also in question it is likely that veteran Lehlohonolo Majoro will start alongside Zambian striker Augustine Mulenga.

Predicted team

Amazulu starting XI (prediction): Mothwa, Zulu, Xoki, Malepe, Mgwazela, Memela, Makhaula, Ceesay, Sithebe, Majoro, Mulenga.

Confirmed team

AmaZulu: Mothwa, Moleko, Xoki, Malepe, Zulu, Mlambo, Makhaula, Qalinge, Luvuyo, Majoro, Maduna.

Subs: Boshoff, Mgwazela, Mzava, Gumede, Masilela, Buchanan, Sithebe, Ekstein, Mthembu.

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