AmaZulu ended their four-match winless run in the DStv Premiership with a polished 2-0 victory away from home over Baroka FC on Saturday – much to the relief of coach Benni McCarthy.
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AmaZulu had entered the match on the back of a four-match winless streak.
Benni McCarthy gave Bonginkosi Ntuli his first start of the season and it proved to be an inspired selection as he headed in the opener after 20 minutes following an expert cross from the left by Sbusiso Mabiliso.
That’s the way the match stayed until half-time with Usuthu going into the break with a 1-0 advantage.
The match remained in the balance for much of the second half before Sphelele Magubane doubled AmaZulu’s lead in the 87th minute.
Benni McCarthy’s side closed up shop in the dying minutes to pick up a well-deserved three points.
MCCARTHY WAS HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE OF HIS PLAYERS
McCarthy was happy with the response from his players and believes it won’t be hard for him to succeed with the players he has at his disposal.
“Well deserved three points, I was really concerned after coming from a difficult game against SuperSport United where we should’ve won three points, and the heat, but you know what these players are just a bunch of winners,” McCarthy said.
“You know it’s really hard for coaches to not succeed when you’ve got players like this who are willing work hard, learn and do better. So yeah, we started the game like we finished the game against SuperSport United, high spirit and you know what, we’ve been playing fantastic football.”
“We will just have to be more consistent and be clinical up front because if we score goals, we can destroy teams and collect more points,” he added.
The “bunch of winners” quote was first used famously by former SA Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula back in 2019 when Bafana Bafana beat Nigeria in an AFCON clash.
Mbalula had previously called Bafana Bafana a “bunch of losers” in 2014 when they lost, ironically, to Nigeria as well.
AMAZULU UP TO EIGHTH IN THE STANDINGS
Those points saw AmaZulu move up to eighth place in the standings after 13 matches.
AmaZulu will next be in action on Friday, 29 January at home against Stellenbosch FC.
Kick-off at Kings Park Stadium is at 17:00.
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