Talking from experience on how to win against favourites in a cup final, AmaZulu great George Dearnaley has given Usuthu some pointers on how they can stun Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final at a sold-out Moses Mabhida Stadium tomorrow (6pm).
Dearnaley, who still holds the record of most goals in a single season for AmaZulu after netting 23 times in 1992, played a telling role when the Durban club humbled then cup kings of SA football Kaizer Chiefs 3-1 to lift the 1992 Coca-Cola Cup. The 1992 triumph remains Usuthu's only piece of silverware to date.
"AmaZulu players must make sure that they don't get too excited about the occasion because the atmosphere will always favour the bigger club, which is Pirates in this case. Pirates are used to playing finals and they have just come from playing against Chiefs in front of 90,000 people, so the occasion must not get to the head of AmaZulu players,'' Dearnaley explained yesterday.
"The second thing is, you need the whole team to have a good game. AmaZulu can't afford one or two players to have a bad game. Everybody must put in an effort... it's a final and you must give your all. If AmaZulu can master that they have a good chance of winning."
Dearnaley added that luck on the day is also important, reflecting on the 1992 final against Chiefs, where they were fortunate to have survived a scare when Chiefs threw everything at them. "Again, you need luck in the final. When I watch the video clips of the 1992 final, I see that we should have lost that game... Chiefs should have won maybe 7-2 but they missed a lot of chances and our keeper Shadrack Biemba made a lot of saves."
"Madlinyoka", as Dearnaley is nicknamed, encouraged Usuthu to deploy an offensive approach and score an early goal. "I know coaches are always cautious in the finals, waiting for the opponent to fire first salvo but for me I want AmaZulu to go all out as early as the first whistle... they must search for that early goal to settle the nerves,'' the 53-year-old Dearnaley said.
Dearnaley scored the opener in the '92 final but a late Johannes Phadime goal sent the match into extra-time, where Usuthu found two more goals from Simon Magagula and Ephraim Mwelase to shock Amakhosi at FNB Stadium.
What Usuthu must do to match Class of '92
Legend Dearnaley says AmaZulu must play as team
Image: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Talking from experience on how to win against favourites in a cup final, AmaZulu great George Dearnaley has given Usuthu some pointers on how they can stun Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final at a sold-out Moses Mabhida Stadium tomorrow (6pm).
Dearnaley, who still holds the record of most goals in a single season for AmaZulu after netting 23 times in 1992, played a telling role when the Durban club humbled then cup kings of SA football Kaizer Chiefs 3-1 to lift the 1992 Coca-Cola Cup. The 1992 triumph remains Usuthu's only piece of silverware to date.
"AmaZulu players must make sure that they don't get too excited about the occasion because the atmosphere will always favour the bigger club, which is Pirates in this case. Pirates are used to playing finals and they have just come from playing against Chiefs in front of 90,000 people, so the occasion must not get to the head of AmaZulu players,'' Dearnaley explained yesterday.
"The second thing is, you need the whole team to have a good game. AmaZulu can't afford one or two players to have a bad game. Everybody must put in an effort... it's a final and you must give your all. If AmaZulu can master that they have a good chance of winning."
Dearnaley added that luck on the day is also important, reflecting on the 1992 final against Chiefs, where they were fortunate to have survived a scare when Chiefs threw everything at them. "Again, you need luck in the final. When I watch the video clips of the 1992 final, I see that we should have lost that game... Chiefs should have won maybe 7-2 but they missed a lot of chances and our keeper Shadrack Biemba made a lot of saves."
"Madlinyoka", as Dearnaley is nicknamed, encouraged Usuthu to deploy an offensive approach and score an early goal. "I know coaches are always cautious in the finals, waiting for the opponent to fire first salvo but for me I want AmaZulu to go all out as early as the first whistle... they must search for that early goal to settle the nerves,'' the 53-year-old Dearnaley said.
Dearnaley scored the opener in the '92 final but a late Johannes Phadime goal sent the match into extra-time, where Usuthu found two more goals from Simon Magagula and Ephraim Mwelase to shock Amakhosi at FNB Stadium.
How Pirates can avoid choking on big stage again
'Top8 trophy will be a gift to Usuthu fans'
No excuses as Bucs look to annex Cup
Pirates’ Timm in Bafana squad as Safa announces November opposition
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Related articles
Latest Videos