Fans losing patience as AmaZulu struggle

AmaZulu FC look doomed to stay in the National First Division (NFD) for at least another season if things don’t change soon. Usuthu’s road back to the Absa Premiership seems to be hitting snag after snag and has become even harder for the Durban-based team to navigate.

The team are currently eighth in the league, with 29 points after 21 matches. The picture is not as bad as it seems though with Usuthu trailing second-placed Black Leopards by just six points.

Usuthu fans – who are infamous for their lack of patience with coaches – showed their dissatisfaction after the team lost 1-0 to Witbank Spurs last weekend.

Coach Joey Antipas has, however, called for more patience as pressure from the fans mounts on the team, saying he understands their frustration.

“We need to handle the pressure that comes; the supporters want results,” said the former Zimbabwe national team coach. Antipas has been accused by the supporters of over relying on an ageing Mabhuti Khenyeza (right) and Siyabonga Nomvethe to carry the youngsters in the team.

Khenyeza has had to play more as a midfielder in most games as the youngsters failed to cope with the pressure while Nomvethe has been a revelation, scoring 13 goals thus far.

Antipas said the fans have to be patient with the youngsters. “We also need to be patient with the youngsters. The supporters want results and we know we are letting them down. If we can just command a good run, we can get back on track,” he said.

Antipas was perplexed at how they failed to collect maximum points against Spurs as they dominated the match, but admitted they would not have scored even if an extra 90 minutes had been added.

“I am still amazed at how we lost the match because we could have played for another 90 minutes and we still wouldn’t have scored. We had so many chances. But you get such games where you create so many chances but nothing seems to come from them,” he said.

Usuthu’s next match is against in-form Stellenbosch FC and Antipas is aware of the enormous effort it will take to get three points away from home.