AmaZulu head coach Benni McCarthy says those who didn’t enjoy his team’s performance in the historic win against Horoya should switch to Winter Olympics.
Usuthu secured the first-ever win in the CAF Champions League group stage at the second attempt after the opening day defeat to Raja Athletic Club last week.
Veteran winger Luvuyo Memela was at hand for their first-ever goal against the Guinea Ligue 1 Pro champions for their 1-0 win at the Moses Mabhida Stadium – with a memorable flicked finish from Augustine Mulenga’s cross.
And the Bafana Bafana legend lauded his side, with special praise going to his front-three led by new signing Abraham Majok as their central figure spearheading the likes of Mulenga and Memela to roam more freely.
“I want to congratulate my players for a splendid performance, I think it was a nervy start against Raja but today from the off … of course Horoya they brought the fight to us because they’re seasoned campaigners and have an intimidation factor,” he said.
“But very soon [into the game] once we got our foot onto the ball, we just remained calm, removed the ball across the pitch switching them and getting Augustine Mulenga and Luvuyo Memela into the pockets of spaces that can hurt them, making them chase.
“Majok worked the central defenders and his hold-up play was magnificent, so I think if you’re a football lover and you don’t like what AmaZulu did today then I don’t know, maybe you must change to winter Olympics or something.
“My team was very good, organised, didn’t give much away today and it’s a pity we didn’t score more than the one goal that we scored – I think there were opportunities especially when you get a performance from ‘Diego’ Mulenga, you would like for him to cap it off with a goal. He could have had two goals [if he went for it].”
Warning to Group B rivals?
McCarthy went on to state their industrious display against the seasoned campaigners should serve as a slight warning against their more illustrious group opponents, which contain ES Setif, Horoya and Raja.
“Overall well deserved and I think we finally staked our claim that we’re not just AmaZulu who’s a novice in this competition and just here to fill the numbers.
“Our intentions are – yes we know it’s extremely difficult and most won’t give us an opportunity – but I think we have as good of a chance to get out of the group stages and surprising a lot of people because there’s room for growth in this team.
“They caught us off guard a little in the second half but then our changes brought us back into the game but you’ll take a 1-0 and then prepare yourself, take your lesson, enjoy the first goal and first victory in the Champions League and making home ground advantage count.”
Calls for the return of fans
With several members of the media and dignitaries present in the stands during their maiden Champions League group stage win, the AmaZulu mentor admitted their presence was felt.
He’s now called for the Premier Soccer League and the Confederation of African Football to follow suit of most of the footballing world to allow supporters back into the arenas which has been prevented since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa back in March 2020.
“Seeing all the dignitaries and all the people we had in the box, the noise that was coming from there, it was superb, it felt like there were fans back in the stadium. I hope that CAF and the PSL if they were watching, can rethink about having the fans back,” McCarthy enthused.
“Life has seemed to go back to normality, but we’re still suffering in the stadiums you know – the fans give the players just a little bit of a push to dig deep with the last bit of energy that you don’t seem to find anymore, they gave us that making so much noise.”
The KZN-based outfit will now face TS Galaxy on Wednesday before hosting ES Setif on Friday in a fixture that could provide a major boost for their knockout stage ambitions in Africa.
