Newly installed AmaZulu caretaker coach Ayanda Dlamini says he comes in the side where, as much as they are struggling to win matches and lie 12th in the DStv Premiership table, but they know the situation that they are in.
Usuthu management triggered things in the technical set up this week, removing out of sorts – coach Romain Folz, with Dlamini taking over on the interim basis until the end of the season.
Folz was removed and deployed as the technical director after Usuthu struggled to get results, losing the last three matches in all competitions, despite signing a bizarre three-year deal recently though it will come into effect in July.
The former Marumo Gallants coach was appointed in October on the contract until the end of the season, replacing Brandon Truter, but he struggled to get things going on his side, winning only three league matches.
However, Folz led Usuthu to the MTN8 final in October, losing to Orlando Pirates in Durban.
“At least the players and everyone in the team understand the situation that we are in,” said Dlamini.
“We are all positive because if you look at the log table, yes, we are number 12 at the moment, but we want the results.”
The last time AmaZulu won the DStv Premiership was against Chippa United away, winning 2-0 in what was the first win away for coach Folz in his coaching career in the PSL.
“You win one game, you are in the top eight. If we lose, the situation gets worse,” Dlamini added.
“So we know what is expected of us, we know what we want. The mood is good and the players are positive. I’m hoping for a good game (against Cape Town City on Sunday.”
Dlamini initially took over at AmaZulu ahead of the 2020/21 season – but won one of the six games before he was replaced by Benni MccCarthy.
But he helped Usuthu survive the relegation zone in the 2019/20 season when he was also an interim coach. He will forever be remembered for beating Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 at FNB Stadium in March 2020, in what was his first game in charge along with Moeneb Josephs as an interim coach.
Dlamini’s first game, this time around, is against a buoyant City side at DHL Stadium on Sunday (17:30).
“We know we are playing against a very tough team away in Cape Town and it is never easy to go there,” Dlamini said.
