Stellenbosch FC head coach Gavin Hunt has discussed the challenge his team faces against AmaZulu and revealed a possible old-fashioned defensive approach to dealing with the in-form Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya ahead of their Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

Ngwenya has been one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Betway Premiership this season, producing impressive performances for Arthur Zwane's team. The Zimbabwean striker has scored 11 goals in 11 appearances across all competitions, making him an important player for AmaZulu as they continue their campaign.

His goal-scoring form has attracted attention, and Stellenbosch will need to be at their best defensively to prevent him from adding to his tally. With a place in the semi-finals at stake, Hunt knows that allowing the striker too much freedom could create serious problems for his team.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference alongside defender Given Msimango, Hunt was asked whether Stellenbosch had a specific plan to stop Ngwenya from scoring.

The experienced coach responded with humour, suggesting that they could consider using man-marking, an approach that was more commonly associated with traditional football tactics.

"Well, maybe we should do it like we used to do in old days? We go with a man marker, don't we?" Hunt said.

Hunt continued by explaining that modern football could sometimes benefit from returning to certain old-fashioned methods, although he acknowledged that man-marking also comes with its own challenges.

"As they say about modern football, maybe we should go back to the old ways and man-mark a few people. I can tell you a few stories about man-marking," he added.

However, Hunt stressed that his players would need more than a tactical plan to contain the AmaZulu striker. He believes awareness and concentration will be important, particularly when dealing with a forward who has been finding the back of the net regularly.

The coach also shared an example of how man-marking can become complicated when the opposition makes unexpected changes to its starting line-up.

Msimango, meanwhile, offered his own perspective on the defensive challenge. The Stellenbosch defender is expected to play an important role in organising the backline, potentially alongside young defenders Luthando Vena and Siviwe Nkwali.

He praised the younger players for their progress and explained that he tries to provide guidance and support during matches.

Interestingly, Msimango admitted that he disagreed with the idea of man-marking, despite the technical team discussing the approach during their preparations.

He believes the responsibility of stopping AmaZulu should be shared by the entire team rather than placed on individual defenders.

According to Msimango, the defenders, midfielders and attackers must work together to limit the opposition's attacking opportunities. He also expressed confidence in the preparations Stellenbosch had completed during the week.

The defender acknowledged that their previous league defeat against Chippa United was disappointing, but believes the team can respond positively in the cup competition.

Stellenbosch will now have to put their preparations into practice against an AmaZulu side that has enjoyed an encouraging season under Zwane.

Ngwenya's scoring record makes him one of the players to watch, and how Stellenbosch deal with his movement and attacking threat could have a major influence on the outcome.

For Hunt, maintaining concentration and defensive organisation will be just as important as deciding whether to use traditional man-marking against the Zimbabwean forward.

Source: IDiskiTimes