AmaZulu co-coach Vusi Vilakazi has expressed that he does not feel any stress at Usuthu, in contrast to his earlier experience with Richards Bay, as the team is not obligated to sacrifice quality football for mere results.

AmaZulu secured their second straight league victory by overpowering rivals Richards Bay 3-1 on Saturday, elevating them to 13th place in the Betway Premiership standings.

Since the introduction of co-coaches Vilakazi and Arthur Zwane after Pablo Franco Martin’s exit, Usuthu has achieved two wins in their last three league encounters, following an initial spell of three losses.

Prior to his appointment as head coach for the reserve team at Usuthu, Kanu was dismissed from his role as head coach of the Natal Rich Boys, even after leading them to triumph in their relegation playoff.

At 42 years old, he confronted a familiar challenge when asked to co-coach an Usuthu squad languishing at the bottom of the relegation zone. However, the former coach of Golden Arrows insists that the two situations are not directly comparable, emphasizing that there is no rush at AmaZulu.

“At present, we are not in panic mode, and we made it clear upon our arrival that our goal is to steadily improve AmaZulu’s standing. I believe we have time and matches ahead of us, so there is no urgency as there was at Richards Bay, where we had to struggle through adversity. Our style of play at that time was less enjoyable; it was solely about survival,” he stated.

Usuthu’s victory over Richards Bay was greatly aided by three young players who significantly impacted the team’s performance.

24-year-old Tshepang Moremi, along with 23-year-olds Rowan Human and Ethan Brooks, played vital roles in all three goals, starting the match ahead of more seasoned players.

The Usuthu co-coach lauded the trio for their contributions to the team’s success while also providing some constructive feedback.

“I see immense potential in them, but it’s important to emphasize that they need to express themselves more effectively. We must encourage them and foster an environment where they can unveil their talents,” Vilakazi remarked.

While acknowledging the skills of the Usuthu youngsters, coach Kanu highlighted areas for improvement within his young squad, stating, “In terms of ball retention, that’s something we can’t instill in them; however, we must concentrate more on our defensive framework. That’s currently where they fall short; they excel in ball handling but need to elevate their performance to rank among the best.”

The Durban club aims to build a fully fit squad that harmonizes experience with youthful talent as they prepare to finish the year with three demanding matches.

In a bid to evade the relegation zone, Usuthu is set to go up against TS Galaxy away on Sunday, return home to clash with Royal AM, and wrap up the year with an away game against Cape Town City in the Western Cape.

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