Ex-Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane accuses Mamelodi Sundowns of orchestrating dirty tactics against AmaZulu - 'We will teach our ball boys to do the same'

AmaZulu head coach Arthur Zwane has accused Mamelodi Sundowns of using the ball boys to slow the Premier Soccer League (PSL) match that was played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Zwane's side went down to a 2-0 defeat courtesy of goals scored by Peter Shalulile and Arthur Sales, both in the second half.

While explaining how his side managed to deny the defending champions the ball, the former Kaizer Chiefs tactician said their rivals slowed the game, to their disadvantage, through the ball boys.

This game offered Usuthu a chance to go into the top three on the table, but they could not, and their unbeaten run of three games also came to an end. Before facing the Brazilians, they won against Magesi FC and Cape Town City before a draw against SuperSport United.

They have now collected 30 points from 22 games.

The win for Sundowns is huge as they opened an 18-point gap ahead of second-placed Orlando Pirates.

“I’ll take you back to the game. How many times did Sundowns try to press us but didn’t get the ball? It tells you about the quality we have in the team. Usually, when Sundowns press you, they’ll get the ball, but with us, they couldn’t do that. I think about six times we came out of the press,” Zwane told the media.

“In the first half, they were also frustrated, but the problem is when we got to the final third, we didn’t hurt them but with them; when they come out, they’ll hurt you. So that was the difference.

“Sundowns tried to press in numbers, but we made sure because we also have quality players that can come out of high press, but the final ball to get the right player at the right time was lacking," he added.

“We got two 1v1 situations, and with the right pass, you go straight to the goalkeeper. We could have gone to halftime leading 1-0. It comes with confidence, but when Sundowns felt pressure, they started kicking the ball, and even their ball boys started rolling the ball, so we are learning, and we’ll also do the same to them," Zwane continued.

“They are going to have to understand in the future; we’ll teach our ball boys to do the same, to say that now we’re leading and we are playing Sundowns, let’s roll the ball and let them come get it."

“We then fight with the referee; it’s fine. You change the ball boy and bring another one; we tell him the same thing, so we learn that’s football," he concluded.

On March 14, Zwane's charges have a match lined up against TS Galaxy at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in Durban.