AmaZulu head coach Benni McCarthy has reacted to his side’s 1-0 win over Baroka FC at Kings Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
McCarthy was delighted to be back to the winning ways after going four games without a win in the league.
Usuthu registered their first win in the DStv Premiership 2021-2022 campaign, having also drawn three games so far.
“Baroka really came here and made it hard for us, they worked exceptionally hard. So we had to contain them, we had to match them for the efforts, for the hard work, and then also try and play the football that we like, which we found it difficult at times,” McCarthy said after the match.
“But we still managed and then every time we got the players like Maduna, Ceesay and Buchanan, Rasta Sithebe on the ball to supply Bongs, we looked dangerous every time getting close to the opposition team’s box, we looked like we could score, from the moments that we were creating. But you know, their defence was also very good.
“And they kept us out for a good period until one bit of magic from Maduna, his dribbling skills, his fantastic craft inside the box got us a penalty because ja, he dribbled, beat the player fair and square, and the player smashed into him inside the box, anywhere on the pitch it’s foul.
“So the referee was very good, and he was very firm in his decision, so we got a penalty and Ntuli slotted away very calmly and very collectively then we go one nil up.”
McCarthy, though, said the team did not play their style due to the unexpected approach of Baroka.
“At the end of the day, when the 90 minutes gone, the team that scored the most goals and pick up the three points is the all important. That’s all that matters. And today for us, we picked up the three points in a completely different format from how we would like to pick it up.
“So it wasn’t our best game of football, but, you know, we showed grit, we showed determination we showed heart we showed character, and we showed that we can not just play very nice pretty football.
“Yes, not in the true AmaZulu fashion, but it showed a lot of different qualities, different characteristics from the team. But sometimes when an opposition team makes it so difficult for us to play the brand of football that we like to play, and then we have to find other means and other ways to get around it.”
