A full-blown rebuild is officially underway at AmaZulu FC. After yet another underwhelming season that yielded little more than frustration and missed opportunities, the KwaZulu-Natal club has opted for a drastic clean-up.
Usuthu have parted ways with no fewer than 17 players ahead of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign, as they attempt to hit the reset button and realign the club with its ambitions. This is not a minor reshuffle — it’s a total squad reboot.
The purge includes some high-profile names and long-serving players, with goalkeeper Veli Mothwa, defenders Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Mbongeni Gumede and Kwanda Mngonyama all shown the exit.
Also making way are midfielders like Abubaker Mobara, Ethan Brooks, Rowan Human and Wayde Jooste — players who arrived with big reputations but struggled to lift AmaZulu to new heights.
Director of Football Pedro Dias struck a respectful tone when addressing the departures, thanking the players for their service.
“I would like to thank all these individuals for their contributions to our club and community. We are grateful for the great moments we shared together. On behalf of everyone at AmaZulu FC, we wish them all the best in their future endeavours,” said Dias.
📢🟢⚪️ 𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗕 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧: See Club Statement as we bid farewell to a number of players in preparation for the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season. Let us wish them well in their future journeys ⤵️#Isagila #UsuthuTogether #HebeUsuthu pic.twitter.com/Ncfg241vMh
— AmaZulu FC (@AmaZuluFootball) June 20, 2025
AmaZulu also confirmed that Etiosa Ighodaro and Sifiso Ngobeni will return to Mamelodi Sundowns following the expiry of their loan deals, adding to the mounting list of exits.
“We extend our thanks to Etiosa and Sifiso for their efforts during their time with us and wish them success in their careers going forward,” Dias added.
But perhaps the most notable piece of business is the sale of Tshepang Moremi to Orlando Pirates. The dynamic midfielder had begun to grow in stature in the AmaZulu engine room and was tipped by many to be part of the next core.
Instead, he heads to Soweto, and Usuthu lose a potentially key figure in their rebuild.
“We wish Tshepang all the best as he embarks on a new chapter in his career,” said Dias.
Nigerian striker Etiosa Ighodaro has joined Kaizer Chiefs on a two-year deal from AmaZulu FC. The 23-year-old, who arrived in South Africa in 2021, impressed during the 2024/25 season despite AmaZulu’s inconsistent form. pic.twitter.com/isEvTKRwcU
— Jide Taiwo sport (@Taiwobabajide6) June 21, 2025
It’s a gamble, no doubt. Clearing out nearly two-thirds of the squad puts pressure on the club to deliver in the transfer market. There’s no safety net. Every new signing has to hit the ground running — and hit hard.
The decision follows another inconsistent campaign in which AmaZulu never quite got going. There were flashes of promise, but they were fleeting — and once again, the team found themselves on the outside looking in when it mattered most.
Behind the scenes, the club insists that work is well underway to identify and secure quality reinforcements, with announcements expected in the coming weeks.
There’s no sugar-coating it: this rebuild will define the club’s trajectory for the next few seasons. Either AmaZulu get it right and finally return to the upper echelons of South African football, or they risk sinking further into irrelevance.
