AmaZulu president Sandile Zungu is over the moon after Usuthu finished second on the DStv Premiership table following a memorable season for the Durban club.
Usuthu have collected 53 points from 29 matches and are left with one match, which is against Maritzburg United, before they wrap up the season.
Zungu made it clear after buying AmaZulu from Dr Patrick Sokhela last October that he wanted a top-four finish at the end of the season.
That looked like a bridge too far when Usuthu struggled at the beginning of the season under former coach Ayanda Dlamini. Zungu acted fast as he wanted to realise his dream of a top-four finish.
He appointed a then unemployed Benni McCarthy as Usuthu coach and the rest as they say is history.
“You’ve got no idea how happy I am. You’ve outperformed yourselves. You’ve gone beyond my initial expectations on what you could achieve,” Zungu said in a message to his team’s players and coaches.
The fact that Usuthu were one of the two teams to beat Swallows FC this season sits nicely with the Umlazi-born Zungu. Apart from losing to Usuthu, Swallows also lost to TS Galaxy.
“We did it ourselves. We beat Moroka Swallows to become the second team this season to do so, well done,” Zungu said.
“You cemented yourselves in the hearts of AmaZulu faithfuls as the historic team of 2020/21. You have begun to write your names boldly on that white canvas talking about the historic era of AmaZulu Football Club. I’m humbled by the success.”
Usuthu had a brilliant run and were at one stage touted as possible championship winners after a 16-match unbeaten streak. But they failed to win the championship as Mamelodi Sundowns won the DStv Premiership crown.
