Arthur Zwane eyes CAF push as AmaZulu return in strong position

AmaZulu head coach Arthur Zwane believes his side are well positioned to challenge for continental football as Usuthu prepare to resume their Betway Premiership campaign in fifth place on the standings.

The Durban-based club return to league action just one point behind third-placed Sekhukhune United and two adrift of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, a platform that has sharpened expectations around a possible CAF qualification push.

For Zwane, the league position reflects a demanding but productive first half of the season.

“It was very challenging but I think most of the players came to the party and played to the best of their ability and in that way we were able to gather a lot of wins even though we gave away points we shouldn’t have at times,” he explained.

AmaZulu’s campaign has been built on resilience and consistency, even if lapses at key moments have prevented them from climbing even higher on the table.

Still, Zwane believes the foundation has been laid.

The coach is particularly encouraged by how the squad has returned from the break, both in terms of attitude and physical condition, as preparations intensify for a congested period of fixtures.

“We have had a positive start to our preparations, we have a clean bill of health as well so we have a lot of options available to choose from,” Zwane said.

That depth could prove decisive as AmaZulu attempt to balance league ambitions with cup commitments, especially with the Nedbank Cup also looming.

Unlike previous restarts that have required rebuilding fitness from scratch, Zwane insists this break has been carefully managed, with players given structured programmes to maintain conditioning.

“The players had individual programmes to follow at home (during the break), we are not starting from scratch (in terms of fitness),” he added.

“Some players are on 70% while others are on 30% because they’re returning from injuries.”

Managing those workloads will be central to AmaZulu’s push, particularly as the fixtures begin to pile up and rotation becomes unavoidable.

Zwane is under no illusion about the challenge ahead.

“We are hoping to keep everyone fit of course because when we play that first game against Siwelele, others will come thick and fast with the Nedbank Cup also to factor in.”

That opening fixture after the break could set the tone for the second half of the season, especially given how tightly packed the table is above and below AmaZulu.

With margins fine and momentum crucial, Usuthu know consistency will be key if they are to convert a promising position into tangible success.

For Zwane, the objective is clear. AmaZulu have placed themselves within striking distance of the league’s upper tier. The task now is to eliminate the dropped points, manage the squad intelligently, and ensure that ambition is matched by execution.

If those pieces fall into place, a CAF spot will move from aspiration to expectation.