AmaZulu-Downs Match Postponed Due To AFL Final - iDiski Times
The DStv Premiership match between AmaZulu and Mamelodi Sundowns at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday has been postponed, Usuthu coach Pablo Franco Martin confirmed.
This is due to Sundowns being set to host Wydad Athletic Club in the second leg of the African Football League at Loftus Stadium on Sunday, 12 November.
That final leg too was pushed back as it was initially scheduled for Saturday, 11 November, because it was clashing with the Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium.
The first leg of the inaugural AFL that comes with a prize money of $4 million (R74 million) will take place at Mohamed V Stadium, with Sundowns hoping to become the second club from South Africa to win in Morocco after Kaizer Chiefs won at the same ground in the semi-final of CAF Champions League in 2020/21.
“The Sundowns game has been postponed,” said Martin.
Martin was speaking after Usuthu crushed Golden Arrows 3-0 in the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Ivory Coast striker Junior Dion was the star of the show, scoring all three goals in the first half, as they quickly strangled Abafana Bes’Thende, who were caught napping and at times showed naivety in defending, especially the third goal scored by the former Marumo Gallants striker.
“We have been talking about this many times from the beginning,” said Martin.
“Football has no secret. When you have players who are capable of making a difference in the opposing box, you are closer to winning and this is what happened.
“You saw the chances he [Dion] is converting having missed the first games of the season and now he is back again from the injury. It is easy for us to achieve our targets.”
He added: “I’m seeing areas of improvement – I’m seeing probably some need in the squad because we need to reinforce the team if we want to be that team fighting for every single title.
“But from there we are improving. What you saw today is not going to be reality, probably for the next game or the upcoming games.”
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Usuthu will know who they will be drawn with in the semi-final on Monday after Richards Bay, Stellenbosch and TS Galaxy all went through to the last four over the weekend.
