AmaZulu focused on the players’ mindset ahead of the Chippa game

Rooted at the bottom of the log, having lost all their matches so far, Usuthu plays their fifth game of the season today against a high-riding Chippa United team at the Princess Magogo stadium in KwaMashu.

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Vilakazi and his co-coach Arthur Zwane lost their first game in the Betway Premiership, a one-nil loss to Orlando Pirates this past Friday, and he mentions the psychological effects of losses.

''I think maybe, we just need to play our role in terms of making sure that we deal with the psychological aspect of the players. The problem with losing games is that it becomes a habit and a habit you don't invite. We need to change the fortune and align the minds of the players so that they can believe in themselves, because they can not turn into bad players overnight. They have been doing well and have been producing results for the club - so we just need to align the minds of the players,'' said Vilakazi.

One player who impressed when he came on for AmaZulu this past Friday was former South African U20 captain Rowan Human.

Once described as the next best thing at the now-defunct Bidvest Wits, he’s not lived up to expectations in recent seasons, but Vilakazi believes that the boy still has something in him.

''We strongly believe in everyone who is in the set up. If you check the last game, he started the game - he didn't have the best game,  but we still believe in him - because we know the qualities that he has and he did very well - he came in and had an impact. But I think, our responsibility as coaches is to identify the problem and come up with solutions and I think he fitted into the solution we needed and he managed to score a goal for us,'' added Vilakazi.

Vilakazi says together with Zwane, they understand fully well that this game is about results, and that’s the expectation from the club president, Sandile Zungu, as well.

''No, no, we haven't spoken anything with the chairman, but in our first game against the Stellies, we all agreed that we need to take the positives from that game. Again today we didn't  get the positive results, but again we will take the positives. As much as you are saying, it is about the results. Arthur and I know that. We need to change the fortunes and we will definitely do,'' he expressed.

Against Chippa, Usuthu are meeting a team that’s motivated by a 2-0 win at home this past weekend against Golden Arrows, sitting in the third spot on the log with 10 points from six matches.

But Vilakazi also believes that a win here will turn their fortunes around.