AmaZulu head coach Arthur Zwane cut a frustrated figure after watching his side crash out of the Carling Knockout Cup following a defeat to defending champions Magesi FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.
It marked Usuthu’s second consecutive first-round exit in a domestic cup competition, having also been eliminated by Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 by the same 3–2 scoreline in Cape Town earlier this season. Despite showing flashes of quality, Zwane’s side once again failed to turn dominance into a result — a pattern the coach admitted has become worrying.
“It’s disappointing definitely, and the most dangerous thing we can do is keep saying we’re promising and we’re coming alright,” Zwane said. “If you’re knocked out early in a tournament like this, then the only thing that gives hope is going into the next round — and maybe then you have hope that next season you will go even further.”
AmaZulu started brightly but were stunned by two quick Magesi goals against the run of play in the first half.
Kgomotso Mosadi opened the scoring with a low finish in the 26th minute before turning provider for Abby Seseane, who doubled the lead seven minutes later.
Zwane’s men mounted a spirited comeback after the break. Substitute Athini Maqokolo pulled one back in the 54th minute before Mlondi Mbanjwa levelled matters midway through the second half, tapping home after a sweeping move down the left. However, the reigning Carling Knockout champions once again proved clinical when it mattered most.
Mosadi’s stoppage-time free-kick took a cruel deflection off Thabiso Kutumela to hand Magesi a dramatic winner — and AmaZulu another bitter defeat. Zwane, visibly dejected after the match, said his young side had the ability to go further but failed to seize their opportunities when it mattered.
“Yes, it’s a young squad but I believe we could have done better — this game was there for the taking,” he said. “I don’t want to hear we did well (after losing). We fancied our chances in this cup — if you look at the history of it, Stellenbosch won it two years ago and then Magesi last year.”
The 50-year-old coach insisted that AmaZulu’s focus must now shift fully to the Betway Premiership and Nedbank Cup, where the team still has a chance to redeem their season.
“Now we’re left with the Nedbank Cup and the league, and we have to up our game,” Zwane added.
With the club’s supporters growing restless after back-to-back early eliminations, Zwane will be under pressure to turn potential into progress when Usuthu return to league action next week — knowing that performances alone will no longer be enough to satisfy Durban’s demanding fans.
