Former AmaZulu FC assistant coach Siyabonga Nomvethe has explained how his collaboration with Benni McCarthy brought out the best in the team.
‘Bhele’, as he’s well-known within football circles, served as an assistant coach to McCarthy from 2020 to 2022 before he went to the reserves.
Together, the former Bafana Bafana strikers guided Usuthu to their highest-ever league finish, achieving second place and securing a position in the CAF Champions League.
After enduring struggles somewhat in the following campaign, McCarthy was dismissed while the former Udinese forward departed the club upon the conclusion of his contract in 2023.
Speaking during the second installment of the Siyabonga Nomvethe Schools Cup which was held at Hoy Park in Durban, Nomvethe said their initial focus with McCarthy was on changing the mindset of the Usuthu players and fostering unity within the KZN outfit.
He believes this helped build the stability within the team.
HOW NOMVETHE AND BENNI BUILT STABILITY AT AMAZULU
“What’s important as a coach is to change the mentality of the players,” said Nomvethe.
“Sometimes others end up having groups [in the dressing room]. One will be like, ‘Ah we’re being coached by this one, he will have his favourites’.
“But [what’s important] is to change their minds and be honest to them.
“There’s nothing we didn’t do to try and fix their mentality. We didn’t talk too much. I played with some of them but what I told them is that football doesn’t need favour.
“If I happen to make you a favour and you don’t perform accordingly, I can’t keep on saying you’re doing well while you aren’t.”
Nomvethe stated that they made certain to assemble a well-balanced team, integrating experience with the development products.
He praised McCarthy for recognising the potential in the club’s youth products, including Samkelo Mgwazela, Sandile Khumalo, and Siphesihle Maduna.
NOMVETHE – ‘WE PRODUCED A LOT OF YOUNGSTERS’
“Benni said, ‘you give 100%, you play, you are young, you’re old, you will play’,” he added.
“That’s why you saw our team rotating. You’d, anytime, see a youngster coming from development, getting a chance with the first team.
“We produced a lot of youngsters there but I don’t how they killed their careers some of them. It’s sad when I don’t see some anymore.
“The likes of [Samkelo] Mgwazela, he played his first game when he faced Black Leopards in the Nedbank Cup. And Benni was like ‘Wow, this boy can play’.”
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