Arthur Zwane, the new co-head coach of AmaZulu FC, has revealed the unique qualities that set his partnership with Vusumuzi Vilakazi apart from previous unsuccessful co-coaching arrangements at other clubs in the PSL.
The pair has been appointed to lead Usuthu, taking over from Pablo Franco Martin, who was dismissed after losing all opening three league matches this season.
Usuthu were linked with various coaches, including Benni McCarthy, Ernst Middendorp, Clinton Larsen and Morena Ramoreboli.
Ultimately, they went for ‘10111’ and ‘Kanu’, who are now tasked with revitalising the Durban-based outfit.
Mamelodi Sundowns pioneered the revival of the co-coaching system in recent years, with Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena forming a partnership.
They had a bit of success in their first season before the club had a technical team restructuring after a poor start to their following campaign. Mokwena was elevated to sole head coach, with Mngqithi demoted.
Those who adopted the model, such as Royal AM [Dan Malesela, Khabo Zondo and Abram Nteo], Orlando Pirates [Mandla Ncikazi and Fladlu Davids], and Sekhukhune United [MacDonald Makhubedu and Owen Da Gama] couldn’t make it work.
Now, Zwane, who left his senior academy coach at Kaizer Chiefs, asserts that co-coaching arrangement with Vilakazi will be distinct from past experiences due to their shared perspectives.
He is confident that their mutual understanding of football principles and “no hunger for power”, unlike most previous co-coaches, will contribute to the success at the club.
ARTHUR ZWANE SAYS THEY ARE NOT HUNGRY FOR POWER
“I know that people believe that co-coaching hasn’t worked in many clubs, but that’s because people wanted power,” said Zwane in an interview with Prime Time Sports with Victor Molefe on Ukhozi FM.
“We don’t want power. Some will even tell you that today, we were sharing ideas, and there’s a lot in common between us. So, that tells you that we want success [for the team] more than individual success.”
NB: SINETHEMBA: ADD THE FAILED CO-COACHING PARTNERSHIP YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IN YOUR PREVIOUS INTRO
“If you’re a kind of person that thinks like that in life, you’re bound to fail. But then in everything we have done in development structures, we have learnt a lot.
“Coach [Kanu] will tell you, attending the coaching courses makes you see things differently. So, I think we are ready.
“Challenges will be there, but we will be able to deal with them because where we come from, we dealt with difficulties of not being able to deliver results and other challenges.”
The former Kaizer Chiefs head coach acknowledged the challenges ahead in leading AmaZulu but expressed optimism about their ability to deliver on expectations.
ZWANE – ‘WE DON’T WANT TO DISAPPOINT AMAZULU PRESIDENT’
“I have explained that it won’t be easy, but I have hope,” he added. “I also drew this from the president [Sandile Zungu], we don’t want to disappoint him and the club’s supporters.
“So, we want the president to see that the decision he made to take us was not wrong.”
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