Benni McCarthy during his days at AmaZulu. Photo: BackpagePix
WATCH: AmaZulu boss opens up on McCarthy axing
AmaZulu president Sandile Zungu has shed further light on why coach Benni McCarthy was let go by the club on Friday.
Benni McCarthy during his days at AmaZulu. Photo: BackpagePix
Although AmaZulu have impressed at times in the Caf Champions League, their performances in the PSL have been poles apart from the 2020-21 season when AmaZulu finished in a remarkable second place.
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The season prior to that, Usuthu had been been perched precariously in the relegation zone, but president Sandile Zungu and Benni McCarthy combined to reverse the team’s fortunes.
Yet, this season has seen AmaZulu left dwindling down in ninth place in the DStv Premiership, having managed just five wins from 23 games, and Zungu has since confirmed that this is the reason McCarthy has been let go.
As it stands, AmaZulu are dwindling down in ninth place in the DStv Premiership, having managed just five wins from 23 games, and the popular coach has now commented on the news.
“I would like to sincerely thank the players and the fans for their support since I’ve joined AmaZulu,” McCarthy said in a statement released by the club.
“I feel privileged to have been able to make history with this Club by taking them from the relegation zone to an unprecedented second-place position in the League last season.
“And then taking the Club into the group stages of the Champions League this year for the first time, beating multiple CAF Champions League winners TP Mazembe along the way.
“I wish the Club all the best going forward as they build on this success.”
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With AmaZulu in fact without a win in 2022, Zungu recently said he is ‘not happy’ over how the team has underperformed in the DSTV Premiership.
Zungu added that an interim coach will take over until the end of the season.
AmaZulu are next in PSL action when they travel to face Baroka on 6 April
Meanwhile, earlier this week, SuperSport CEO Stanley Matthews offered support to McCarthy and said he could reach similar heights achieved by Pitso Mosimane.
“Maybe now you could look at Benni, with his track record in playing and access to personalities and intellectual capital he has on a direct basis, whether it’s a Jose Mourinho, he’s put himself in a bracket where he can become a special coach,” Matthews said.
“Without the international exposure, flavour and modern trends, without spending time with the best practitioners in the game, who are in Europe right now, if you don’t do that then you can’t get to the level that Pitso is.”
