They say patience is a virtue, but certainly not when it’s misguided, like AmaZulu boss Sandile Zungu’s.
Coaching, in any sport, is that one job where you’re only as good as the last result. Understandably, when things aren’t going well, questions will be asked.
Right from the onset, when Romain Folz was appointed AmaZulu coach, I kept asking myself if AmaZulu president Sandile Zungu was taking the right decision.
IS FOHLOZA A PERFECT FIT?
He handed him a new three-year contract when I was still pondering whether ‘Fohloza’ was a perfect fit. Of course, that new deal only kicks in after the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season.
Zungu claimed there was interest in the former Township Rollers coach elsewhere, so he wanted his young coach to feel secure at AmaZulu.
By the way, my qualms with Fohloza have never been about age. It’s never about age in football.
Rulani Mokwena stands out as an example of that. I boldly use Rulani as an example because Fohloza has a good squad.
It’s almost six months since he jumped ship from Marumo Gallants, citing interference from management.
He seems like a forthright guy, judging by the way he left the Limpopo side.
Half a year after he joined AmaZulu, I’m here sitting and wondering if this guy is a good fit.
Zungu’s big gamble seems to be backfiring with each game, in spectacular fashion nogal.
I chatted with Zungu three weeks ago, and he cut a confident figure. He must be very amenable. I say this based on two conversations I’ve had with him in recent months.
The first was when FARPost carried a story that Truter had lost his dressing room. He denied it, insisting everything was on track. Alas, a few weeks later, Truter was a gone man.
He said his target was a top-four finish as he envisions AmaZulu becoming one of the elite teams in the domestic league.
THE PROMISE TO FANS
By the way, they are easily in the country’s top five most supported teams. The backing I have for this is the Carling Black Label fan votes.
Those votes gave an indication of which four teams enjoy the most support locally.
Anyway, in came Fohloza when Usuthu were in ninth place. Here’s what Zungu said: “I repeat my promise to our fans that I will do everything in my power to bring back the glory days at AmaZulu. We are championship material; there is no doubt about that,” Zungu said.
“We can and will challenge for trophies, both domestically and continentally. As the oldest club in the DStv Premiership. Usuthu is a heritage of South African football, and therefore, we must self-correct expeditiously whenever we hit snags.”
Fast-forward to Sunday, 9 April 2023, when AmaZulu visit Cape Town City; it will be exactly six months since Fohloza took over.
The million-dollar question is whether he could handle the pressure of life at one of South Africa’s oldest clubs. As it appears, he isn’t up to the task, at least judging by the results.
According to Transfermkt, he has been in charge of 27 games in South Africa, and he has only registered four wins.
Three have been in the DStv Premiership, while one was in the Nedbank Cup. It has been a draw galore, with 15 recorded while he has lost eight. That eight includes the MTN8 final, which Zungu wanted to win so badly.
Under the 32-year-old’s ill-fated reign, AmaZulu have slipped to 12th, further away from Zungu’s top four target.
SANDILE ZUNGU’S MISGUIDED PATIENCE
In fact, they are nearer to the relegation playoff spot. The KZN outfit is just four points ahead of 15th-placed Maritzburg United and potentially five if basement side Marumo Gallants win their game in hand.
It would seem the Frenchman has been given a lengthy stay of execution that was not afforded to Truter.
The Cape Town-born Truter left after precisely five months.
And Zungu’s misguided patience has seen him hand an underperforming coach a cushy three-year deal.
For what exactly? After a major pre-season overhaul, a lot was expected from AmaZulu, who brought in big names like Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Gabadinho Mhango, Ethan Brooks, Dumisani Zuma and George Maluleka, among others.
Very few would put their money on Fohloza steadying the ship. Granted, he will convince you he knows what he’s doing when he talks football.
But the game is more than just talking tactics. In his case, as a young coach, it’s about managing the egos in that squad. Has he done that? No, I don’t think so.
Zungu’s massive statement of intent when he ruthlessly fired Benni McCarthy before bringing in Brandon Truter is a bit telling. The same then happened to Truter after months of publicly backing him. I don’t have to guess where this Fohloza thing is going. It’s just a matter of time.
With his investment, Zungu needs a top coach to come and guide AmaZulu back to the top like McCarthy did the other season.
Manqoba Mngqithi will be available next season, with his contract with Mamelodi Sundowns ending in June.
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