‘I need him’: Ayanda Dlamini hails Ramahlwe Mphahlele’s gritty leadership
AmaZulu FC interim coach Ayanda Dlamini has hailed Ramahlwe Mphahlele for his gritty leadership as he looks to finish the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season strong.
Mphahlele stood tall on Saturday night as AmaZulu beat Sekhukhune United to steer away from the drop zone.
The victory over Sekhukhune – coached by their former coach Brandon Truter – breathed life into Ayanda Dlamini’s survival drive.
SAVED MANAGEMENT THE BLUSHES
It saved AmaZulu’s management the blushes. Quite interesting, ‘Brakkies’ said there were “some rotten individuals within that Usuthu squad” after losing 2-0 to them.
Imagine if he had sent them deeper into the murky waters of relegation! Having parted ways with the club in October 2022, Truter would have had a point to prove.
And proving that point by sending them deeper into the drop zone would have given him much to say. Like he did when he left Swallows for AmaZulu.
He came back and inflicted more pain on The Birds, who were fighting relegation. And he was quick to remind them.
And when Mphahlele trotted onto the pitch – with that armband wrapped around his upper arm – it said many things about him. Consummate professional, leader, dependable, big-hearted and capable!
Just under a month ago, his future was uncertain after Usuthu’s then-head coach Romain Folz recommended his axing to management.
Of course, a U-turn was made after Dlamini requested to bring the versatile defender back.
“I brought him back for the last six games that I was given charge of. That was my decision. I need him. What goes beyond that, I can say how I feel, but the president will [Sandile Zungu] make that decision,” Dlamini told journalists after the win over Babina Noko.
CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL
Like the consummate professional he is, ‘Rama’ has gone about his duties with the aplomb of a veteran. Not just for 90 minutes on the field of play but even beyond.
The man has proven to be the professional’s professional, guiding AmaZulu with humility and exemplary leadership.
“I’m a professional, I just do my job, and I’m getting paid to play football,” said Mphahlele recently.
“That’s what I do, and that’s why I never spoke about anything to anyone, and my job is to play football.
“I don’t want to talk about who did what said what – my job is to play. I will do that as long as I’m still here.”
It makes much sense why Dlamini would want to have him continue with the team.
The former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns defender is a player Dlamini trusts to do his job precisely and ensure others do likewise. That is why he handed him the armband, despite the events of last month.
Turning on an assured, disciplined performance, the man who hails from Ga-Mphahlele even added a goal to that five-star display.
Twice, in the post-match television interview and to journalists, Dlamini showered the 33-year-old defender with praise for helping Usuthu bounce back.
DLAMINI HAILS RAMAHLWE MPHAHLELE
“And Rama for his Man of the Match award, he deserves it. He saved us from a couple of situations. He’s shown the leadership skills that I was talking about,” Dlamini told SuperSport TV.
The Durban outfit kept a clean sheet for the first time in April. The last time they had done so was against Chippa United on the 5th of March.
“Defensively, we were very good. Mphahlele and [Abbubaker] Mobara, you can see the experience. I feel Mphahlele deserves to be the man of the match,’ ‘Cobra’ reiterated.
“I’m happy that the president agreed to bring him back now with [Keagan] Buchanan. They’re helping the team. What happens after that – I cannot comment.”
Dlamini was appointed interim coach last month following a string of poor results. After a troubling spell, the former Usuthu forward has presided over three games.
His first outing was a 2-2 draw against Cape Town City away from home. They had to come back from behind to return home with a point.
His second was against SuperSport, ending in a 2-1 loss. The third was the 2-0 win over Sekhukhune.
Mphahlele has featured in the last two, and his experience has been apparent.
The four points out of a possible seven have lifted Usuthu to 10th place [before TS Galaxy’s game against Orlando Pirates], a good six points from the playoff spot.
After such a performance, Dlamini would fancy a top-eight finish, which is still mathematically possible.
Of course, considering their opposition, winning all three matches would take much work.
Their next assignment is against Mamelodi Sundowns before they take on Golden Arrows. They close off the 2022/23 season with a tie against Orlando Pirates.
THE UTMOST PROMISE
“I’m an important member of the team. I believe I can help the team, which is what I will do. It has nothing to do with any other person, it is all on me and my teammates, and that is all that matters at this moment in time.
“You just have to control what you can control, and that is what I have tried to do in my whole career. I don’t like making noise, blaming people – I look at myself and say, ‘Did I do anything wrong?’”
With soldiers like ‘Rama’ – a 33-year-old in the body of a 29-year-old – Dlamini would feel anything is possible at this stage.
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