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Goal explains why Diego and Amigo will be eager to show the Buccaneers what they have lost in Durban
Luvuyo ‘Amigo’ Memela and Augustine Mulenga will be motivated to prove a point when AmaZulu FC take on a new team from the Orlando Pirates on Saturday.
The duo were one of 11 players recently released by the Soweto giants and have been replaced by seven new signings.
The decision to ditch Memela and Mulenga raised a few eyebrows as they were influential attackers in the Pirates squad.
Here’s a look at why the two players will be itching to show the Buccaneers what they’ve lost this weekend:
Nightmare of Bucs de Mulenga
Mulenga criticized Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer, feeling he was manipulated by the German tactician during the 2019/20 season.
The experienced attacker explained that Zinnbauer would only line him up when one of his trusted players was injured, leaving him frustrated.
The man nicknamed Diego asked the Pirates management to fire him at the end of the season and his request was accepted by the club.
The Zambian international was on Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila’s (TTM) radar, but it was AmaZulu who won the race by signing.
Mulenga to chase the Bucs
Mulenga’s first match for Usuthu will be against the Pirates in their first match of the new 2020/21 PSL season at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium.
Diego will be desperate to prove Zinnbauer wrong by not giving him more playing time, as the Lusaka-born player has made just nine league starts in the 2019/20 campaign.
Zanaco’s former player is a powerful winger, gifted with rhythm, cunning and an eye for goal that makes him one of the most feared wing players in the country.
Mulenga played some of his best football in his first two seasons at the Pirates under coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic when he scored key goals that helped the team fight for trophies.
The 30-year-old will look to regain his previous form with AmaZulu coach Ayanda Dlamini and inspire the KwaZulu-Natal giants to a victory over the Buccaneers.
Memela underrated in Bucs?
Memela decided to end his five-year stint at Pirates after lengthy contract renewal negotiations as the Soweto giants sought to retain his services.
However, the two sides could not come to an agreement and the attacking midfielder has since found a new home in an ambitious AmaZulu team.
Usuthu has a new owner in Sandile Zungu, who has done his best to sign quality players like Mulenga, Memela and Siphiwe Tshabalala, as they look to compete for a place in the top four in the league this term.
Memela’s departure is a huge loss for the Pirates and Zinnbauer knows exactly what his team has lost to the 33-year-old, who was the chief orchestrator of the Soweto giants.
Memela – A great loss
The 50-year-old strategist managed to bring Memela back to life after he took over from Rhulani Mokwena in December 2019 and the left-handed attacker flourished as a playmaker.
Blessed with a deadly combination of ball control, speed, vision and incisive passing, Memela recorded four assists, the most of any Pirates player, in the league during the 2019/20 season.
Memela also features Big Match Temperament (BMT) after scoring crucial goals for the Pirates when they defeated Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Friend will now look to make the Pirates regret not agreeing to their demands by playing a pivotal role in helping AmaZulu start the new campaign with a victory.
