Played
July 18, 2012 7:00 PM BST
Moses Mabhida Stadium — Durban
 
 

Amazulu - Manchester United Preview: Red Devils set to hand debuts to Kagawa and Blackett in friendly clash

The Premier League runners-up start off their pre-season schedule with a trip to Durban to face the South African outfit, who finished seventh in the country's top tier in 2011-12

By Andrew Kennedy

  PROBABLE LINEUP
AMAZULU FC


Kapini
Teysie, Van Heerden, Nyadombo, Bukasa
Zhuwawo, Johnson,
Mbhele, Senamele
A. Dlamini, G. Dlamini
MANCHESTER UNITED

Lindegaard
Vermijl, Ferdinand, Wootton, Brady
Carrick, Scholes
Valencia, Kagawa, Powell
Hernandez

Manchester United kick-off their South African tour on Wednesday night against Amazulu, and Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to field a mixture of youth and first-team experience in the friendly clash in Durban.

Olympic duty has ruled out goalkeeper David de Gea and full-back Rafael, while centre-backs Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans are all still recovering from injury.

Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes and Antonio Valencia are all likely to start, but the Red Devils could also field young defenders Marnick Vermijl and Scott Wootton, while a start should come for Robbie Brady at left-back alongside the potential debuts of Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell.

The hosts will likely field a strong line-up with the new Premier Soccer League season kicking off next month, and may hand a debut to new midfield signing Dulee Johnson at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • This is Manchester United’s fourth pre-season tour of South Africa, with their last visit coming in 2006 when they took on Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

  • The Red Devils take on neither side this time round, instead facing Ajax Cape Town in their final game on the continent before heading east to take on Didier Drogba’s Shanghai Shenhua.
  • Manchester United’s 22-man squad for the three-game tour contains just four regular starters from last season.
  • The clash takes place on 'Mandela Day', where people are asked to give 67 minutes of their time to a charity or the local community in celebration of his 94th birthday.
  • Amazulu are managed by Swedish coach Roger Palmgren, who, other than a brief spell in charge of his local club Vasalunds IF in Stockholm, has spent much of his career in Africa.

  • The club finished seventh in the Premier Soccer League last season, and kick off their new campaign against Kaizer Chiefs.

  • Amazulu FC was formed in 1932 by Durban migrant workers, and were previously known as the 'Zulu Royals'.
  • The Moses Mabhida Stadium (pictured right) originally had a capacity of 62,760 for its use during the 2010 World Cup, but has now been reduced to 54,000.


Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
Club Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ 18 Jul 2012 Amazulu FC 0 - Manchester United 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Odds
Returns: Amazulu £660.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Draw £120.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Manchester United £12.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Team News
Available Squads
13Anders LindegaardGoalkeeper
56Frederic VeseliDefender
6Scott WoottonDefender
5Rio FerdinandDefender
17Robbie BradyMidfielder
-Jesse LingardMidfielder
16Michael CarrickMidfielder
22Paul ScholesMidfielder
27Federico MachedaStriker
9Dimitar BerbatovStriker
14ChicharitoStriker
50Sam JohnstoneGoalkeeper
7Antonio ValenciaMidfielder
8AndersonMidfielder
26Shinji KagawaMidfielder
46Ryan TunnicliffeMidfielder
33BebeStriker
25Nick PowellMidfielder
-Marnick VermijlDefender
Players to Watch
Tapuwa Kapini
Tapuwa Kapini
Position: Goalkeeper
Squad Number: 16
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
The goalkeeper established himself in South Africa with the Platinum Stars, helping the team to second place during the 2006-07 season, before making the switch to Amazulu in 2011. At 27, he is a regular for the Zimbabwe national team and will need to be on top form to keep the likes of Kagawa, Valencia and Hernandez at bay.
Shinji Kagawa
Shinji Kagawa
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 26
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
The Japanese midfield maestro is Sir Alex Ferguson's marquee signing of the summer so far, and it's easy to see why. With tremendous ball control and vision, the 23-year-old playmaker can score goals as well as make them. The former Dortmund man will be itching to show the fans why the club paid just over £13 million for his services.
Probable Lineups
Tapuwa Kapini 16
Piet Tsweu Mokoro 32
B. Bukasa 3
Carrington Nyadombo 0
Mark  Van Heerden 8
Ayanda Phelelani Dlamini 11
Ramson Zhuwawo 34
Kagiso Thabiso Senamela 13
Bongani   Mbhele 18
Goodman Sthembiso Dlamini 3
Sifiso Vilakazi 22
Anders Lindegaard 13
Frederic Veseli 56
Scott  Wootton 6
Rio Ferdinand 5
Robbie Brady 17
Jesse Lingard 0
Michael Carrick 16
Paul Scholes 22
Federico Macheda 27
Dimitar Berbatov 9
Chicharito 14
Prediction
It could be a raucous atmosphere in front of 54,000 South African fans, and Roger Palmgren's men will be keen to impress against illustrious opposition.

And with the Red Devils missing a number of key players and still oiling the wheels following the summer break, I expect the sides to play out a 1-1 draw.
Editor's Prediction
Results
November Matchday
Times In GMT
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Edin  Dzeko Edin Dzeko
Striker
Manchester City
2 0
César Azpilicueta César Azpilicueta
Defender
Chelsea
1 1
Marco Di Vaio Marco Di Vaio
Striker
Montreal Impact
1 0
Micah Richards Micah Richards
Defender
Manchester City
1 0
Javi García Javi García
Midfielder
Manchester City
1 0