Head coach Pablo Franco Martin remains optimistic about his AmaZulu side's chances in the race for a spot in the coveted DStv Premiership top eight despite languishing in the bottom half of the standings.
Despite currently occupying 12th position with 33 points from 28 league matches, Martin believes Usuthu are still in contention.
Martin’s side are just two points adrift of Kaizer Chiefs in eighth position with as many as six teams in the race to finish in the last spot to qualify for next season’s MTN8.
The Spaniard reflected that the result against Kaizer Chiefs was fair after the two teams shared the spoils at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.
“I think overall, a good game. I think the point is pretty fair. Happy because at this stage, we already got the same points as we got last season. Still, two days to go,” Martin said.
“Still, we are alive in the fight for the top eight, which I think is something realistic for this club this season. Happy with that and looking forward to the next game and to finish the season in the best way possible.”
Martin added that AmaZulu would need results to go their way to finish in eighth.
“I think we don’t depend on us to finish in the top eight but if we are collecting points we might have that chance and if we don’t have that chance we must reach as high a position as possible in the log,” Martin added.
“The way we look into the picture is looking higher, we are looking at the eighth position, ninth position, tenth position.
“We are going to go to Sekhukhune knowing that they are also playing for a good position in the log, it’s going to be a tough game. We already experienced that scenario with them in the Nedbank Cup and we were capable of beating them.
“Arrows is the last game we are going to play. It’s a derby, we are also fighting to be the best ones this season in KwaZulu-Natal. So, I think the motivation should be there. And our intention is to try to collect as many points as possible.”
Usuthu next face Sekhukhune United on Saturday at the Peter Mokaba Stadium before ending their 2023/24 season against Golden Arrows at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on 25 May.
