AmaZulu’s momentum grows as Arthur Zwane backs youth to carry the charge

AmaZulu head coach Arthur Zwane says even he didn’t expect to see Usuthu flirting with the top three of the Betway Premiership as the season nears its halfway stage.

Zwane entered the campaign with a relatively young squad and has had to navigate a run of injuries, many affecting senior players who were meant to anchor the team.

Despite those obstacles, AmaZulu briefly climbed to third place this week, holding the spot for 24 hours before other midweek results altered the standings. He attributes their progress to a renewed emphasis on winning home matches and turning King Zwelithini Stadium into a reliable source of points after years of inconsistency.

Their most recent success — a KZN derby victory over Golden Arrows — demanded tactical flexibility and squad trust. First-choice goalkeeper Darren Johnson was forced off near the end of the first half, handing an unexpected opportunity to 24-year-old Olwethu Mzimela.

Since being promoted from the development ranks in 2020, Mzimela has struggled for consistent minutes.

The arrival of Darrel Johnson, who has taken ownership of the No.1 jersey this season, has further limited his game time to just three appearances. But Zwane insists the young keeper remains central to AmaZulu’s long-term planning.

“Goalkeepers are not the same as outfield players, and we can’t lose hope on the young man because, when you look at him, he has a fantastic profile. Olwethu has played for the U17s, U20s and U23s, and he has been with the CHAN Bafana Bafana team.”

Another player to impress Zwane is midfielder Liam Bern, who has quickly cemented his place in the starting XI despite a difficult off-field transition from Cape Town Spurs. Bern’s transfer was held up by a contractual dispute, delaying his registration until November.

Since being cleared, the 22-year-old has produced three strong performances, combining tactical discipline with relentless work rate. Zwane praised Bern’s maturity and professionalism.

“He arrived at a time when we needed stability in the middle, and we also had challenges when Mbanjwa was injured. The plan was to build him up slowly, by giving him 60 minutes in his first couple of games, but unfortunately, we didn’t have the back-up in his position, so we had to throw him in the deep end.”

Zwane, affectionately known as “10111”, also extended his well wishes to Bafana Bafana ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off on December 21 and runs until January 18. He believes Hugo Broos’ side has shown enough growth and consistency to aim for a deep run in the tournament.