AmaZulu will host Kaizer Chiefs at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban for an intriguing Betway Premiership clash on Wednesday night.
The teams come into this match with differing fortunes; while Kaizer Chiefs, under the guidance of head coach Nasreddine Nabi, kicked off their season with a solid 2-1 victory against Marumo Gallants, AmaZulu, led by Pablo Franco Martin, suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Polokwane City.
The pressure will be on AmaZulu to bounce back, especially after a lacklustre performance in their opener, where new loan signing Etiosa Ighodaro netted their only goal.
“I really like them (Chiefs),” Martin told a press conference.
“I think they have improved from last season. The current coach (Nabi), I know him well because I played against him in Africa and he has been successful wherever he goes.
“I think they signed very good players where they had weaknesses and in positions where they did not have so many weaknesses they were capable of creating competition, and that makes a team grow.”
Interestingly, Martin and Nabi have faced each other before during their respective tenures in Tanzania.
Martin, who was at the helm of Simba FC in the 2021/22 season, went head-to-head with Nabi, who managed Young Africans.
Their past league meetings were tightly contested, ending in goalless draws, but Nabi’s Young Africans triumphed in both the Tanzanian Premier League and a cup semi-final against Martin’s side, finishing 13 points clear in the league.
Fans can expect a fiercely competitive match as AmaZulu seek redemption and Kaizer Chiefs look to maintain their winning momentum.