AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane has explained that the club brought in Thabiso Kutumela to bolster their attacking options, particularly since Elmo Kambindu has been struggling with a hamstring injury since the end of last season.
Kambindu, a former Chippa United striker, has not played in any matches this season, which has been a significant concern for the club. He was seen running on the sidelines of the pitch at Princess Magogo Stadium alongside Tebogo Mashigo on Monday.
With their attacking department depleted, AmaZulu management signed Kutumela, who was a free agent after being released by Richards Bay at the end of last season.
The striker, who has previously played for Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, reminded everyone of his quality at the recent CHAN tournament in East Africa. He was part of the Bafana Bafana squad, scoring three goals in four matches for Molefi Ntseki’s side.
Zwane Explains Kambindu’s Injury
“Kambindu has been unfortunate to be out injured,” Zwane explained. “He pulled a muscle towards the end of last season. We thought he would be okay for our last game against Orlando Pirates; we tried him because he wanted to play.”
Zwane continued, “After all the physical and psychological rehab that was done to prepare him, he pulled out again two days before the match. So, this time we said, ‘Let’s take our time with him because the hamstring is troubling him.’ I believe if he was available, we would probably be talking about a different story with some of the chances we created, but everything happens for a reason.”
The absence of striker Ryan Moon, who also did not train with the team on Monday, adds to Zwane’s concerns as they prepare to host Stellenbosch FC at Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday.
The Decision to Sign Kutumela
Zwane elaborated on the decision to sign Kutumela, citing his experience and recent performances. “That is why we brought in Kutumela, because of his experience and his performances in most of the games he played at CHAN,” Zwane said. “They were encouraging and convincing. He scored goals and he’s a good finisher.”
“He can also handle pressure and hit the ground running,” Zwane added. “Hence, we went for him. We needed someone who could just come in and start playing immediately. We’re happy to have him on board and we think he’s going to add so much needed value.”
The 32-year-old Kutumela has a career record of 40 goals and 14 assists in 185 PSL matches.
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