AmaZulu head coach Arthur Zwane has hailed Siyanda Hlangabeza’s development following a fruitful loan spell, but insists the young midfielder still has room to grow.
Hlangabeza, 22, spent the 2024/25 season with Durban City under the guidance of Simo Dladla, where he played a pivotal role in the club’s promotion campaign.
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Featuring in over 20 matches, the loan stint provided him with valuable minutes and sharpened his competitive edge—preparing him for a stronger return to Usuthu in the Betway Premiership.
Zwane acknowledged the success of the move, saying it gave Hlangabeza the platform to mature both technically and mentally. That being said, he emphasized that the journey is far from over, urging the player to build on his momentum and push for greater consistency at the top level.
Since his return, Hlangabeza has already picked up two Man-of-the-Match awards in consecutive 1-0 wins against Orbit College and Marumo Gallants at Princess Magogo Stadium, underlining his importance to Zwane’s plans.
“With Hlangabeza, people can now see why we sometimes loan out players,” Zwane was quoted by Sowetan.
“We don’t loan for the sake of it. He played regularly at Durban City, gained a winning mentality, and was instrumental in their promotion. That experience has helped him come back better prepared.”
Despite the progress, Zwane believes Hlangabeza still has room to improve as he adjusts to the demands of top-flight football.
“The NFD isn’t the same as the Premiership. At times he still makes some elementary mistakes, but what matters is that he has grown, and I believe he can contribute even more at this level,” Zwane said.
AmaZulu’s start to the league campaign has been steady, with two clean sheets in three matches. Their only slip came in a 2-0 defeat away to champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
“The defence deserves credit for their hard work. We just need to polish our finishing,” he added.
AmaZulu next travel to Polokwane for a midweek clash against Sekhukhune United at Peter Mokaba Stadium. Kick off is set for 19h30 on Wednesday, 27 August 2025.