‘I Can’t Take Credit Alone’: Zwane Dedicates Coach of the Month Award To Usuthu
AmaZulu head coach Arthur Zwane insists he cannot take sole credit for winning the Betway Premiership Coach of the Month award for September and October, dedicating the accolade to his players, technical team, and supporters.
Zwane guided Usuthu to five victories during the voting window, propelling the KwaZulu-Natal side up the league standings.
He edged out strong competition from Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso and Orlando Pirates mentor Abdeslam Ouaddou.
With this achievement, Zwane becomes the first AmaZulu coach to win the monthly award since Benni McCarthy during the 2020/21 season.
The milestone follows striker Thandolwethu Ngwenya claiming the PSL Player of the Month award for August, capping a remarkable early-season run for Usuthu.
Zwane Shares the Praise with Usuthu Faithful
Speaking on his recognition, Zwane emphasized that the award is a collective effort:
“Being the Coach of the Month, obviously, I wouldn’t have done this work alone,” said Zwane.
“Credit goes to the players, the entire technical team and the club for giving us the support to be able to give our best and grind out results at the same time.
“We really appreciate the support of our fans as well. It wouldn’t have been possible without our supporters coming out in numbers to our games. They have played a major role in helping us get positive results.
“They have become our 12th man, especially when we are playing at home. I would also like to thank the Betway Premiership and the many other coaches who were nominated for the award. Massive thanks to everyone who played their part.”
Carling Knockout Exit a ‘Hard Pill to Swallow’
The individual accolade comes on the back of a bittersweet week for Usuthu, who suffered a disappointing exit from the Carling Knockout Cup after falling to Stellenbosch in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
Zwane, who won the tournament three times as a player during his career at Kaizer Chiefs, admitted the cup elimination was difficult to digest:
“Concerning the Carling Knockout Cup, it is a massive, massive setback for us,” said Zwane.
“We were still disappointed as a team because we felt we fancied our chances. We also applied ourselves well, but we conceded goals that we shouldn’t have.
“However, it is one of those things that we will probably learn from, even though it is a hard pill to swallow.”
Despite their cup disappointment, AmaZulu remain firmly in the Betway Premiership title conversation, sitting in the upper reaches of the standings, third, with 25 points from nine matches.
Usuthu will return to action after the FIFA international break when they host Milford FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on 28 October.
