Cape Town - AmaZulu striker Ayanda Dlamini says he is ready for life in the National First Division following their relegation at the end of last season.
The 30-year-old lanky striker is one of Usuthu's long-serving players, having joined the KwaZulu-Natal side in the 2009/10 season from the amateur ranks.
The Durban outfit have already lost a host of their star players - including Mbulelo 'OJ' Mabizela, Bongani Ndulula, Khulekani Madondo and Nkosinathi Mthiyane - after finishing bottom of the Premiership last term, but Dlamini remains entirely committed to the cause.
"I'm ready for NFD campaign with AmaZulu, and more than prepared in helping the team fight for promotion back to the Premiership," he told Football411.
"I can't turn my back on AmaZulu now that they are in the NFD, because this is the team that gave me a break in the professional ranks. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Usuthu."
After a failed attempt to reclaim their Premiership status, where the PSL rejected their bid to buy Mpumalanga Black Aces' spot for the 2015/16 campaign, Usuthu are now preparing for life in the dog-eat-dog second tier of South African football.
"Currently coach Steve (Barker) is assessing the players he will need for next season's campaign, so he is the one to decide which players to retain or not," Dlamini continued.
"But personally, I'm more than prepared to stay put with the team. Things will be different next season in the NFD because of the Under-23 rule, so the team will mainly use the youngsters, while also relying on the experience of seasoned players in guiding these youngsters," said Dlamini, Usuthu's current leading striker with 34 goals in 164 appearances.
Having already lost some of the key players like , the Durban side are trying hard to hold on some other key players for the next season's NFD campaign.