The Premiership will feature a critical KwaZulu-Natal derby on Friday night as AmaZulu take on Richards Bay at King Zwelithini Stadium.
Both teams are looking to bounce back from recent setbacks and improve their standing in the league, with the kickoff set for 7.30pm.
With AmaZulu aiming to stay in the top eight and Richards Bay fighting to distance themselves from the relegation zone, this match promises to be crucial for both sides.
AmaZulu’s recent form has been a concern, as they extended their winless run to four matches following a defeat to Chippa United last weekend.
The loss marked Usuthu’s third consecutive setback, putting pressure on coach Arthur Zwane to turn things around.
Friday Lights eMlaza KZN derby 💚🔥 https://t.co/n9vobQNGqf pic.twitter.com/7HVzK3J5Ey
— uMahlalela 🇿🇦 (@LekoMadlala) April 2, 2025
Despite the defeat, AmaZulu remain in seventh place on the league table, four points behind sixth-placed Polokwane City, and three ahead of Golden Arrows in 10th.
“We were supposed to beat Chippa to consolidate our position. We’re in the top eight, but if you look at the past four games, we’ve conceded identical goals. We could have done better,” Zwane said.
“We’ve put ourselves under pressure now. If we don’t win the next game, we could slip out of the top eight.
“Our target is fourth place, but those chances are fading because we keep hurting ourselves.”
Richards Bay, meanwhile, have been inconsistent, suffering a 3-1 loss to Polokwane City on Sunday.
After suffering their second defeat in three matches, Richards Bay now find themselves in 13th place, just two points above the relegation zone.
With safety on their minds, coach Ronnie Gabriel knows the importance of the upcoming derby.
Let’s push our supporters, friends and KZN derby game this one to paint the stadium green and show them we are the biggest club in the country. Woza Friday campaign
“Looking at the way things are down there at the bottom of the league, we cannot be naive and run away from it,” Gabriel said ahead of the match.
“We are fighting that battle for survival, and we understand the dynamics that come into play for us to get out of the battle.
“We are up for the challenge and we will regroup and get better against AmaZulu and get the result at home on Friday.”
Both teams will look to key players to spark a turnaround in their fortunes.
For AmaZulu, winger Tshepang Moremi has been one of the stand-out performers this season.
He scored his third league goal in the loss to Chippa and has provided six assists, making him a constant threat on the flanks.
Richards Bay will pin their hopes on forward Justice Figuareido, who has been in excellent form, scoring in recent matches against Polokwane City and Kaizer Chiefs.
Figuareido’s ability to find the back of the net could be crucial as Richards Bay look to grab the upper hand in this high-stakes derby.
This clash promises to be a competitive and closely contested affair, with AmaZulu eager to end their losing streak and solidify their top-eight position.
Richards Bay, on the other hand, are desperate to escape the relegation zone and make a push for safety.