Vilakazi On Capitalizing On Bay’s Coaching Chaos
AmaZulu co-coach Vusi Vilakazi has admitted that their preparations for the match against Richards Bay were disrupted by the sudden dismissal of their coach, Brandon Truter, two days prior.
Truter was shown the door on Thursday by Bay after losing to Kaizer Chiefs midweek and it is four losses on the bounce in the league now for the KZN club, which has seen drop to the bottom of the Betway Premiership table.
The former Moroka Swallows coach was appointed during the off-season to replace Vilakazi, who resigned after helping the Natal Rich Boys survive the drop having saved them from the relegation zone via the playoffs.
His successor, Truter, appeared to struggled as they had scored two goals in conceded seven in eight matches in the process.
As Bay lost to AmaZulu 3-1 on Saturday, they have now conceded 10 goals and scored just three.
“What we were preparing for was something else because the coach left and we planned according to what Truter was capable of doing,” said Vilakazi.
“But we are adjusted in the past two days because we anticipated that the approach might be different.
“Instead of having five at the back, they might have four which is something that happened.
“I think we were lucky and spot on that one. In terms of playing and keeping the ball possession, we knew that we had an upper hand and we can do that the whole day.
“But we needed to have forceful penetrations in terms of making sure that we create goal scoring opportunities. I think the first half for us we started very well, we dominated, we kept ball very well, created strong opportunities. But we won 1-0 in the first half.
“So, when we started the second half, we wanted to win the second half, which is something that happened and we won the second half by 3-1 and 3-1 overall.”
This was AmaZulu’s second victory on the bounce, having defeated Chippa United early in November, lifting them to 13th place in the league.
Vilakazi expressed optimism about the team’s progress, stating, “I think in terms of going forward, the confidence is getting there,” said Vilakazi.
“And the chemistry from the players, the hard work it is there. But this is not yet the better of AmaZulu that we see now. But we are a work in progress and we will do better next time.”
Usuthu was supposed to host Mamelodi Sundowns at King Zwelithini Stadium on Tuesday in the Betway Premiership match, but that match has been scheduled for another day.
This is due to Sundowns’ involvement in the CAF Champions League group stages as they are going away to Morocco to face FAR Rabat on Saturday, the former club of Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi.
