Zungu’s local approach lifts AmaZulu as Bay and City face tests

SANDILE

- MIHLALI BALEKA.

Zungu is an ambitious club president, which is why his decision to return to “local favour” could once again prove to be “lekker” this season.When Zungu took over AmaZulu a few seasons ago, he declared his ambition to turn the club into a top-four side in the PSL.

To date, Zungu’s dream has only been realised once — when Benni McCarthy incredibly led the team to a runners-up finish in the league in 2021, 89 years after the club was established.

McCarthy's run with his troops was expected to be the turning point from which Usuthu would build and establish themselves as one of the most formidable sides in the local top flight. But that, it turned out, was wishful thinking.

After sacking McCarthy, Usuthu endured a drastic decline.

The revolving door of European coaches, including Romain Folz and Pablo Franco, proved catastrophic rather than influential.

Zungu changed his approach about 21 months ago, returning to ‘local favour’ by appointing Arthur Zwane and Vusumuzi Vilakazi as co-coaches. Young, ambitious, and eager to redeem themselves after previous disappointing stints, the duo slowly but surely brought Usuthu back to life.