Co-coach Vusi Vilakazi of AmaZulu has revealed that he feels no pressure at Usuthu, contrasting his past experience at Richards Bay, as the team prioritizes quality football over merely achieving results.
AmaZulu secured their second consecutive league victory by beating local rivals Richards Bay 3-1 on Saturday, elevating them to 13th place in the Betway Premiership standings.
Since co-coaches Vilakazi and Arthur Zwane took over after Pablo Franco Martin’s exit, Usuthu has recorded two wins in their last three league outings following an earlier stretch of three defeats.
Prior to his current position as head coach of Usuthu’s reserve team, Kanu was dismissed from his role at the Natal Rich Boys despite guiding them through a successful relegation playoff.
At 42 years old, Kanu grapples with a familiar challenge as he joins a struggling Usuthu side near the bottom of the relegation zone. However, the former Golden Arrows coach insists that the two scenarios are not directly comparable, highlighting that there is no urgency at AmaZulu.
“Right now, we are not in panic mode, and we made it clear from the start that our goal is to steadily enhance our standing at AmaZulu. I believe we have time and upcoming matches, so the sense of urgency we faced at Richards Bay isn’t present here, where we had to endure tough conditions. Our style back then was purely about survival and not enjoyable,” he stated.
AmaZulu’s victory over Richards Bay was heavily supported by three young talents who significantly impacted the team’s performance.
Tshepang Moremi, 24, along with 23-year-olds Rowan Human and Ethan Brooks, were pivotal in all three goals, earning their starting positions ahead of several seasoned players.
The Usuthu co-coach lauded the young trio for their contributions to the team’s success while also offering constructive feedback.
“I see immense potential in them, but I must emphasize that they need to enhance their self-expression. We must support them and create an environment that allows them to showcase their skills,” Vilakazi clarified.
While acknowledging the talents of his younger players, coach Kanu pointed out areas for improvement, noting, “When it comes to ball retention, that’s not a skill we can teach them; however, we must concentrate more on our defensive structure. This aspect is currently where they fall short; they excel at handling the ball but need to boost their performance to compete with the best.”
The Durban-based club aims to develop a fully fit squad that harmonizes experience and youthful talent as they prepare to conclude the year with three demanding matches.
In their quest to steer clear of the relegation zone, Usuthu will face TS Galaxy away on Sunday, host Royal AM at home, and wrap up the year with an away match against Cape Town City in the Western Cape.
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