AmaZulu F.C.

One of the oldest clubs in South Africa, AmaZulu was formed by Zulu migrant workers in 1932 and originally named Zulu Royal Conquerors. The club was then introduced to then Zulu king Solomon, who changed the team's name to Zulu Royals, their colours to royal blue and white, and also introduced the shield to their logo.[1]

Initially Prince Bayisikili was placed as the team guardian at eMsizini and later replaced by Prince Sithela and the teams headquarter was at the eMbelebelenicode: zul promoted to code: zu Royal Kraal by then the team colours had changed to bottle green and white. On the day of King Bhekizulu's funeral in the year 1968, the team went to play a Cup game against SAPPI Homestars at eMandeni, which they lost 4–2. On the day of the funeral the club was supposed to escort the King's coffin but Mr. Shezi, Mr. Nsele, Mr. Magwaza ended up escorting the King wearing the teams uniform.[2]

After that game an argument had broken up between the supporters of the club because some of them including Prince Sithela criticized the fact that, how could the team play a game on the day of the funeral of the Zulu King, when the team was supposed to mourn the King's death. The continuation of the argument led to Mr Gideon Sibiya and Mr. Ntuli who accompanied the club to eMandeni decided to take the club away from eMbelebelenicode: zul promoted to code: zu to eWemacode: zul promoted to code: zu and then it was no longer recognized at the eMbelebelenicode: zul promoted to code: zu Royal Kraal.[3]

At the end of 1970 the remaining committee members consisting of Mr Mkhize and Mr Ralph Mabaso decided to rebuild the team from scratch, recruited players, acquired a kit and appointed Mr Bethuel Masondo as the team manager. The committee went on to register the club as Zulu Royals United and Mr. Bethuel Masondo was the sole director. They decided to take the team back to eMbelebeleni Royal Kraal as its headquarters.[4]

In 1971 a team called African Wanderers which was located in Kwa-Zulu Natal were experiencing problems while playing in the National Professional League (NPSL) which led the NPSL to take a decision that the Kwa-Zulu Natal Football Association must suspend African Wanderers from the NPSL and then recommend another team from Kwa-Zulu Natal to replace them. The Kwa-Zulu Natal Football Association then recommended the following teams: Union Jacks, Durban City All Black, Zulu Royals United Directors or Young Dribblers.[5]

The National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) at that time chairman, Mr RD Sishi, decided that Zulu Royal's United must replace African Wanderers in the NPSL because Zulu Royals was a team which represented the Zulu Nation from the Royal Kraal and that it has a support base more than the clubs that were recommended.[6]

In 1971 Zulu Royals replaced African Wanderers and went on to finish 6th on the log and were voted club of the year. The following year in 1972 the club won the N.P.S.L league title securing 44 points from 26 matches and only losing 2 games.[7]

In 1973 Zulu Royal suffered a huge set back when the then manager Mr. Bethwell Masondo left the club and took with him several prominent players which split the club. After this unfortunate incident the club went into a mid-season slump that would see them not being able to successful defend their league title. In 1974, the running of the club was taken over by the supporters and in the same year, the team changed to AmaZulu Football Club. Some supporters led by Mr. Francis Dlamini who managed the reserve team decided to part ways with the reserve team to Bhekizulu hall and renamed back Zulu Royals United and its nickname were esikotshi”.[8]

Other Directors that followed were Mr, Manana and Mr. Nxumalo who bought the team for R 4000.00, Mr. Merikan Madlala from Lamontville, then followed a committee made of Mr. Ngongoma, Mr. Duma, Mr. Mathe, Mr. Dlamini, Mr. Biyela and Nhleko. In 1985 the National Soccer League was formed and AmaZulu entered a new phase of their history under the leadership of Mr. David Dlamini.[9]

In 1987, Clive Barker coached AmaZulu FC to finals of mainstay Cup and Iwisa Charity Cup, where they were narrowly defeated twice by Kaizer Chiefs. In 1990 the club reached the Bob Save Super Bowl final which they lost with a last minute goal against Jomo Cosmos, in 1992 the club won the inauguration Coca-Cola Cup and finished 3rd on the log in 1993.[10]

After Mr. Dlamini then followed Spar Natal, Mr. Ncanana, Mr. Dan Naidoo, Mr. Mike Segal, Mr. Dave King after him was Mr Sisa Bikisha in 2002, who then changed the name AmaZulu F.C to Zulu Royals.[11]

In 2005, Dr Patrick Sokhela bought the team from Mr Sisa Bikisha, decided to revive the once mighty outfit of the Zulus by renaming the team back to AmaZulu Football Club. He and immediately bought the Premier Soccer League status of Dynamos to return the club to the top flight.[12] To commemorate the club's 80th anniversary in 2012 AmaZulu played a friendly against English giants Manchester United on 18 July 2012 losing by a solitary goal scored by Federico Macheda.

AmaZulu was relegated in the 2014–15 season. After a failure to be promoted in the 2016-17 season they rejoined the Premier Soccer League by purchasing the Thanda Royal Zulu's Premier Soccer League Status.[13]

After purchasing their PSL status, the team finished 7th in the 2017/2018 season,[14] however they were stripped of the Top 8 finish when Ajax Cape Town fielded Tendai Ndoro in matches against Platinum Stars, Polokwane City & Supersport United. This resulted in Ajax Cape Town losing all three matches 3-0 & fined R50 000 on each offence,[15] and AmaZulu dropping to 9th position in the 2017/2018 season.[16]

On 28 September 2018 it was announced by the PSL that AmaZulu would be docked 6 points for failure to comply with a ruling made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in September 2017.[17] The matter surrounded the illegal termination of the contract of a former player, Phinheas Nambandi, in 2014[18] Nambandi took the club to FIFA to contest the termination of his contract, with FIFA ruling that the termination was illegal and that the club were to pay an amount of R1‚086,000.00. AmaZulu appealed the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, however, the decision was upheld. A year later the club had still failed to pay the outstanding figure to Phinheas Nambandi, this resulted in FIFA's Disciplinary Committee ruling that should the club not settle the debt with the player by 16 September 2018, 6 points would be deducted.[19][20]

The club currently training out of the People's Park fields, next to Moses Mabhida Stadium.[21] AmaZulu have administrative offices inside the Moses Mabhida Stadium,[22] whilst the technical team are based inside Prime High Performance Center. The club also utilize the performance facilities at Prime.[23]

The club play their home games out of King Zwelithini Stadium, which is based in Umlazi.

The High Performance Manager of AmaZulu, Joshua Smith, played a key role in the formation of an externship program with the University of KwaZulu-Natal Biokinetics, Sports and Leisure Science department in 2019. The link sees biokinetics and exercise science honours students from the university assist with AmaZulu youth training sessions and physical testing.[24] The link between the two organisations continued in 2020.[25]

• Most starts: Julius Chirwa 244
• Most goals: Owen Nzimande 55
• Most capped player: Francis Shonhai 13
• Most starts in a season: Archie Radebe 41 (1987)
• Most goals in a season: George Dearnaley 23 (1992)
• Record victory: 16–0 vs Barcelona (31/8/86, Mainstay Cup)
• Record defeat: 1–8 vs SuperSport United (6/6/04, PSL)

As of 17 February 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 MF Olwethu Mzimela 2 MF Siphelele Magubane 4 MF Michael Morton 5 MF Sibongakonke Ndlovu 6 MF Butholezwe Ncube 7 FW Bongi Ntuli 8 FW Jabulani Ncobeni 10 MF Siyethemba Sithebe 13 FW Thokozani Ngubane 14 FW Andre de Jong 16 GK Moeneeb Josephs 17 DF Mbongeni Gumede 18 DF Mario Booysen 19 MF Talent Chawapiwa 20 FW Lehlohonolo Majoro 21 MF Charlie Hlalele

No. Position Player 24 DF Thembela Sikhakhane 25 DF Phumlani Gumede 26 FW Sbusiso Magaqa 27 DF Tapelo Xoki 28 GK Siyabonga Mbatha (captain) 29 DF Sibusiso Mabiliso 31 FW Miloš Lačný 32 FW Sandile Khumalo 33 MF Samuel Darpoh 34 MF Sphesihle Maduna 35 DF Boiki Modikaseng 37 FW Bayanda Shangase 39 DF Tsepo Masilela 43 GK Neil Boshoff 50 MF Nhlanhla Vilakazi

Players on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player DF Sbu Maluleke (to Royal Eagles until 30 June 2020) DF Xolani Slawula (to Uthongathi until 30 June 2020) MF Singabakho Ngema (to Royal Eagles until 30 June 2020) FW Somila Ntsundwana (to Royal Eagles until 30 June 2020) FW Mhlengi Cele (to Richards Bay until 30 June 2020) FW Nthuthuko Madela (to Jomo Cosmos until 30 June 2020)

• Shirt sponsor: SPAR[65][66][67]
• Kit manufacturer: Umbro[68]
• Sponsor: Ilanga[69]
• Sponsor: Ukhozi FM[70]
• Sponsor: Durban Tourism
• Vehicle Sponsor: Volkswagen South Africa (Barons Durban Branch)
• Strapping and Rehabilitation equipment: HiTech Therapy

• Official website
• Premier Soccer League