Diwali and Guy Fawkes have come and gone and AmaZulu continue to improve and Lamontville Golden Arrows have moved into the last four of the Telkom Knockout Challenge by beating Ajax Cape Town 2-1.
The local derby match between the Usuthu and Abafana Bes’thende ended with a 2-1 win for the boys in green and white.
The Arrows goal keeper Virgil Vries gifted AmaZulu a goal when he lost his footing and balance and allowed the ball to trickle into the back of the net.
The volatile Arrows coach Mushin Ertugral let his frustrations be known to all and sundry. He reminded the goal keeper of his mistake for the rest of the match.
AmaZulu’s second goal was all class as Bongani Mbele ran on to a through pass, kept his composure and slotted the ball past the beleaguered Arrows keeper to make the score 2-0.
The home side pulled one back when Thamsanqa Gabuza scored from close in. It was a quality game that went down to the wire.
Any match that has the likes of Collins Mbesuma and man of the match Bongani Mbele performing at their best makes the game enjoyable to watch.
Roger Palmgren and his technical team must be complemented for the huge improvement.
AmaZulu have gone from strength to strength. They now play with a structured system but are encouraged to play off the cuff.
The players are enjoying the game and await the next league match against Black Leopards at home with interest.
Arrows bounced back in the cup competition when they beat and knocked out the Urban Warriors 2-1 away from home.
Mushin Ertugral has won cup competitions with Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax before. There is no reason why the Lamontville side can’t go all the way and win the Telkom Challenge.
They will play against Orlando Pirates in the semifinals and will want to use the fact that they have been drawn at home to their advantage.
Neighbours Maritzburg United picked up a valuable point when they conceded home ground advantage to Kaizer Chiefs.
The match was played in Port Elizabeth, and they richly deserved the point plus the financial benefit they received by agreeing to play Chiefs away.
This weekend Bafana Bafana will take on the talented Ivory Coast. Coach Pitso Mosimane will feel the pressure and heat after the Sierra Leone Afcon Nations Cup debacle.
Nothing but a convincing win with goals will satisfy the long suffering South African supporters.
Let’s hope that he has sat Itumeleng Khune down and has reminded the country’s number one goal keeper that the game is more important than his antics on the field of play.
I hope the newly elected Kaizer Chiefs captain has accepted the responsibility that has been bestowed upon him at a club/international level.