AMAZULU could cap a remarkable turnaround this season with a place in the Nedbank Cup semifinals, but to do so they must overcome a Santos side looking for a silver lining to an otherwise testing season.
Usuthu coach Roger Palmgren said yesterday that Sunday's game would not be easy despite Santos's focus being on Absa Premiership survival.
"Not so long ago we were down where they are right now, so it won't be an easy game," Palmgren said.
"Santos have very strong offensive players and will always give us a hard time. So if we go into a game against them without being humble or having respect, we will lose against them."
Santos, second from bottom in the standings, have lost four matches and drawn one in their last five league outings, with their only victory in recent matches coming against lowly third-tier side Rose United in the Nedbank Cup round of 16.
Palmgren insisted that his side would have to be defensively sound to resist the threat posed by Santos strikers, who he said enjoyed attacking down the right flank.
Usuthu midfield general Thamsanqa Sangweni's solitary strike took them past First Division side Witbank Spurs in the round of 16 and the maestro could once again become a factor come Sunday. Sangweni also scored what proved to be the decisive goal in the 2-1 league win away to Santos in December last year.
But Palmgren played down the 22-year-old's influence, insisting that a good team effort would secure qualification into the next round.
"It is important that everybody plays well. I don't have any particular star players in my team and everybody has to do their job."
AmaZulu won't take Santos lightly
AMAZULU could cap a remarkable turnaround this season with a place in the Nedbank Cup semifinals, but to do so they must overcome a Santos side looking for a silver lining to an otherwise testing season.
Usuthu coach Roger Palmgren said yesterday that Sunday's game would not be easy despite Santos's focus being on Absa Premiership survival.
"Not so long ago we were down where they are right now, so it won't be an easy game," Palmgren said.
"Santos have very strong offensive players and will always give us a hard time. So if we go into a game against them without being humble or having respect, we will lose against them."
Santos, second from bottom in the standings, have lost four matches and drawn one in their last five league outings, with their only victory in recent matches coming against lowly third-tier side Rose United in the Nedbank Cup round of 16.
Palmgren insisted that his side would have to be defensively sound to resist the threat posed by Santos strikers, who he said enjoyed attacking down the right flank.
Usuthu midfield general Thamsanqa Sangweni's solitary strike took them past First Division side Witbank Spurs in the round of 16 and the maestro could once again become a factor come Sunday. Sangweni also scored what proved to be the decisive goal in the 2-1 league win away to Santos in December last year.
But Palmgren played down the 22-year-old's influence, insisting that a good team effort would secure qualification into the next round.
"It is important that everybody plays well. I don't have any particular star players in my team and everybody has to do their job."
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