Warhorse plots Usuthu's way back to PSL

08 January 2016 - 02:31 By Khanyiso Tshwaku

Robyn Johannes is one of the few links that lower-tier side AmaZulu has with the PSL. Usuthu have adjusted to life in the National First Division, even though they are stuck in the mid-table thicket.Johannes's future with the club is not yet clear, with six months to run on his contract.That aside, it seems his main intention is to play a part in the club's attempt to get back into the top flight.With Baroka FC leading the NFD with 28 points from 13 matches, AmaZulu's task to lift themselves from seventh with 19 points does not look easy.They also have the tough task of stopping the division's leaders in their tracks at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane tomorrow."At the beginning of the season we made resolutions within the club and the most important one was getting back into the PSL. We know 2015 was a bit of a disappointing year for us, but we have one ambition in mind, and that's getting back into the PSL," Johannes said.AmaZulu have the benefit of playing most of the rest of their games at home this year, having navigated the minefield of trips to Cape Town.The Mother City has no less than five clubs in the division and Steve Barker's charges have made four visits there with varying degrees of success.They collected a win, a draw and two losses.Johannes seemed relieved that they are only due one more trip to Cape Town - to face Vasco da Gama on February 28.Amazulu are also looking up at Witbank Spurs and Mbombela United, who occupy the second and third playoff spots.They are only two wins off those, but Cape Town All Stars, Royal Eagles and Highlands Park lie above them.Turning home-turf Princess Magogo Stadium into a fortress is one of Amazulu's priorities."We know the Cape teams still have to come here and they're going to struggle here. We want to turn Princess Magogo into a fortress and we want to make it difficult for teams to collect points here. Our form at home hasn't been as good as what we wanted it to be and we know it can get better," Johannes said."The nice thing is that we can only go up from the position we're in."We have eight or nine home games remaining and we need to collect maximum points. We can collect points on the road, but winning at home is vital."..

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