Lamontville Golden Arrows will face AmaZulu today at King Zwelithini Stadium in the KZN derby without three of their experienced players - Musa Bilankulu, Danny Phiri and Sandile Zuke.
Bilankulu and Phiri are suspended while Zuke is injured. “We’ve lost a lot of experience having all three out at the same time. But when this has happened in the past, we somehow always seem to pull through. Hopefully, that will be the case this time too,” manager Clinton Larsen said.
Thabo Molefe and Nkanyiso Cele are set to take over in the middle of the park where the game is likely to be decided.
Bilankulu and Phiri have been the vital cog for Abafana Bes’thende with their diligence and the ability to control the game in the last couple of matches. Bilankulu was given his marching orders against Kaizer Chiefs three weeks backs while Phiri got his fourth booking which means suspension.
Zuke hasn’t featured in the last two months because of an injury. He is set to return to action next year. “Cele had been doing well and so has Molefe. Parusanth (Seth) and Danny Venter can play in that midfield role,” Larsen said.
It could be a fired-up derby as only three points separate the two sides. Arrows are 10th with 16 points and AmaZulu 11th with 13. Abafana Bes’thende have showed they can do the job at difficult venues, securing draws in Cape Town, the Free State, Mbombela, Orlando and Bidvest Stadium.
AmaZulu are tough customers at home. They are still unbeaten in the league so far this season at King Zwelithini. Baroka FC, Free State Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic all bit the dust in Umlazi. And Sundowns, Pirates, Polokwane City and Maritzburg United had to settle for a point. Usuthu suffered a setback last week, beaten 3-1 by Black Leopards. So they will be looking to get back to winning ways. Arrows are oozing with confidence having recently beaten Chiefs and drawn with Wits.