AmaZulu president Sandile Zungu has clarified the reasons behind the club’s decision to appoint former Golden Arrows and Richards Bay coach Vusi Vilakazi.

Zungu expressed disappointment with the reserve team’s failure to produce players for the first team last season, which resulted in a third-from-bottom finish under former Orlando Pirates midfielder Andile Cele. Cele, who replaced Reneilwe Letsholonyane midway through the season, has been assigned to coach the club’s under-19 team.

“I’m on record that I’m very disappointed that some of the DDC players have not been promoted to the main team,” Zungu stated on SuperSport TV’s “Around The Programme.

“We don’t have a DDC team just for pleasure, but it is a reserve team and it was very important that we brought someone who has the experience in the top flight. 

“He’s got a very decisive target that we have set for him which is decisiveness in the DDC, to make sure that the youngsters are watched by Pablo Franco Martin, but also an opportunity to be seen by the world. 

“So, we were very clear that we were looking for someone with the calibre of Kanu to marshal those forces and we will demonstrate that, ensuring the reserve team can function as reserve team for the first team.” 

Zungu has firsthand experience of DDC success, having won the reserve league title in 2020/21 with Sboniso Vilakazi as coach (now the club’s assistant). Kanu also boasts two DDC titles with Arrows.

However, Vilakazi’s appointment, following his recent departure from Richards Bay, has led to speculation that he’s being groomed as Franco Martin’s successor. With Usuthu finishing 11th last season and missing out on the MTN8, pressure is mounting on the head coach. Zungu described missing out on the MTN8 as “painful to watch.”