AmaZulu head coach Pablo Franco Martin is relishing the opportunity of getting revenge on Kaizer Chiefs in the Carling Knock out, having suffered a 3-0 beating in the DStv Premiership.
Usuthu were drawn against a familiar opponent in Amakhosi in the last 16 of the Carling Knockout, with the two teams having already met this season in the league.
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On the day, Chiefs walked away as overwhelming winners thanks to a Pule Mmodi brace and an Edson Castillo header. Speaking at the Carling Knockout launch on Tuesday, Martin said it's high time his side got one up against Chiefs.
"A nice opponent to play against, I think it's the type of rivals I want to play against, we also faced them in the league and we were defeated and now we have the opportunity to take revenge. So, it's a good motivation," Martin said.
"The only thing I didn't like was the fact of playing away because we have to play Chippa away on the 28th and now we have to play unexpectedly against Pirates on the 24th. [With the Chiefs game] we have two away games in short space of time. No time for preparation, no time to rest this is what I don't like as a coach.
Pule Mmodi delivered a match-winning performance ?Chiefs are up and running in the #DStvPrem ?? pic.twitter.com/jYKPPAhBdR
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) August 26, 2023
Like Chiefs, Usuthu has endured a luke warm start to the season, with both teams collecting two wins from their last five respective outings.
"I feel that right now AmaZulu is capable of beating any team in the league," added Martin.
"At least if we talk with just about football. We are going to be competitive [against Chiefs] and we are going to try to correct the few mistakes we had when we played them and to be more accurate because the football we played against them is already the correct so we will insist the same scenario.
"Things are getting better and better, it's a fact. I think everyone who is watching football can see the improvement of the team.
"From there I think we are not getting the points we deserve, more of the time because of things we cannot control but sometimes of things we can control if we are accurate enough."
Before meeting Chiefs in the Carling Knockout, AmaZulu will take on Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium on 24 October.
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