Benni McCarthy says that the position of head coach at Amazulu was made an irresistable prospect by the club’s new ownership.
KwaZulu-Natal and Durban, in particular, have been a hotbed of footballing talent. Still, there hasn’t been a PSL winner from the province since Manning Rangers lifted the trophy in the inaugural season of the Premiership.
Amazulu won the National Professional Soccer League in 1972 and the Coca-Cola Cup in 1992, but new President Sandile Zungu wants the club to compete with South Africa’s heavyweights.
McCarthy keen to give back at Amazulu
Amazulu are a historic club but successes have been few and far between for Usuthu. Their new owners are determined to see that change and McCarthy’s signing is another statement of intent from the Durban club.
“How can I not want to be part of the club that has an inspiration because i was once a young boy too, i was fortunate enough to be given an opportunity to become someone,” McCarthy said at his unveiling.
“Somebody has faith in me and I was able to have a career, there are millions of young players that are dying to have the same opportunity that I had, I want to do same and give them a chance.
“For history Chiefs and Pirates has, it what we want to achieve as AmaZulu.”
McCarthy suggests that he has taken on this challenge to give back to the South African footballing fraternity.
“As a person, most of you know me as a young boy stepping on the playing field and some know me when I hanged up my boots and became a coach,” McCarthy told reporters this week.
“When I first communicated with the chairman, he explained to me and it didn’t have to take a lot to get involved in the project because when someone speaks to you about change, not only footballers currently playing in the team but the future of millions of young players that this country has.”
A club with ambition
McCarthy inherits a team that rose to eighth with their 3-1 win over Chippa United this weekend to give him a dream start to his coaching tenure. The scorers, Augustine Mulenga and Luvoyo Memela, are bet known for their time at Orlando Pirates but reflect the quality brought to Durban by Amazulu’s new owners.
The result against Chippa saw Usuthu snap a four-game winless run across all competitions.
McCarthy will take the helm for the second time when Amazulu travel to Bloemfontein to take on Celtic in January giving him some time to familiarise himself with the squad.
