Bongani Zungu backs hungry AmaZulu youngsters to deliver silverware this season

AmaZulu midfielder Bongani Zungu says the youngsters in the team have a lot of hunger to succeed, which is why he fancies their chances of winning silverware this season.

Usuthu are one of the most followed outfits in the PSL top flight, thanks to their history and deep roots in the South African football. However, silverware has eluded the club in recent years, with their closest attempt being the MTN8 final, which they lost to Orlando Pirates in 2022.

Enter this season.

There’s a strong belief within the Usuthu camp that the team’s fortunes can change and that coach Arthur Zwane could finally deliver silverware. This optimism is also driven by changes in the squad, with the club cutting out deadwood and integrating more youngsters — a move that seems to be paying off.

The first trophy of the season — the MTN8 — is already gone, meaning AmaZulu must now shift focus to the Carling Knockout, where they’ll face Magesi in the opening round on the weekend of October 3, at home.

“I think there’s hunger this season. They’ve brought in a lot of youngsters who are hungry to succeed,” said Zungu, speaking on the sidelines of the Carling Knockout launch at the FNB Stadium Dome on Monday.

“That has been evident in the league. We are doing pretty well, so it’s really exciting times for the club. When competitions like this come around, they present a great chance for the team to win silverware. We are excited as a team and want to give every opponent problems.

“We’ve proven this season that we can compete with anyone and create chances. That’s something we struggled with before, but the guys are improving up front. We need to build on that.”

Zungu is one of the most experienced players in the PSL, having also played abroad in the French and Scottish Premier Divisions. He believes that some local youngsters are now ready to follow in his footsteps.

“Obviously, there are players I’ve seen who have the potential to play abroad,” Zungu said.

“There’s always talk in the media about who’s going and who’s not. I think South Africa is blessed with talented young players.

“I always tell them — when they call and ask for advice — that I went to Europe at 24. I was still considered a youngster in South Africa. So they better go now. My advice is to grab the opportunity — you’ll be happy you did.

“The more players we have overseas, the better it is for the national team. But even now, we can see Bafana are doing well with mostly local players.

“I won’t mention names, but there are players who’ve really surprised me with their maturity, quality, and ability to compete at a high level. We saw how well they played against Nigeria.”

Meanwhile Usuthu will be eager to continue with their impressive start to the season when they visit TS Galaxy in a league clash at Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday night (7.30pm kick-off).