AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane reflects on a year of leadership
Zwane was appointed alongside Vusi Vilakazi on 8 October last year after AmaZulu lost their opening three league matches, resulting in the dismissal of Spanish coach Pablo Franco Martin.
Following Vilakazi's resignation in February for personal reasons, Zwane continued as the sole head coach.
Turning AmaZulu Around
At the time of their appointment, Usuthu were languishing at the bottom of the Betway Premiership. With Zwane at the helm, the team rebounded to finish sixth last season, achieving a top-eight finish for the first time in two years.
Currently, they sit in ninth place with 12 points from eight matches, indicating some progress, albeit with inconsistency.
“I’m not happy about some games we should have won,” Zwane noted.
“Against Kaizer Chiefs and TS Galaxy, if we had everyone available, we could have done better. What bothers me most is when we score first and still drop points. That shows we need to manage games better.”
Zwane’s Record at AmaZulu
During his tenure, Zwane has led the team in 28 matches across all competitions, achieving eight wins, nine draws, and 11 losses. While the results reflect a mixed bag, the coach believes that the groundwork for long-term success is being established.
He acknowledges that AmaZulu sometimes loses control in the latter stages of matches:
“We defend well but sometimes drop too deep and give the opposition too much time on the ball. That’s where we need to improve.”
Carling Knockout Cup Test
Zwane's focus now shifts to the Carling Knockout Cup round of 16, where Usuthu will take on defending champions Magesi FC this Sunday at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Interestingly, Zwane and Vilakazi’s first match in charge last year also took place at this stage, where they fell 2-1 to Stellenbosch at King Zwelithini Stadium.
Pride in Coaching AmaZulu
Zwane conveyed his deep pride in being chosen to coach a club of AmaZulu’s stature:
“This opportunity isn’t afforded to everyone,” he expressed.
“Until people recognize how significant this club is, the better. Who wouldn’t want to coach AmaZulu? That’s why it frustrates me when someone doesn’t grasp what AmaZulu represents.”
“The club's history, the individuals who have invested, the board, the president [Sandile Zungu], and many others who are emotionally invested in the team's progress—this is crucial.”
“It irks me when I see people taking this for granted. It worries me deeply. You can build upon what this club has already accomplished. It is vital to understand your role at AmaZulu.”
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