Candidates for vacant Amazulu coaching slot
AMAZULU announced their decision to part ways with head coach Brandon Truter on Thursday after just five months in charge at the club.
Truter, who was initially roped in for the final stages of the last campaign on an interim basis, was handed the permanent role of head coach ahead of the 2022/23 season after closing out the last campaign in fine style.
The 52-year-old mentor was entrusted with the huge responsibility of leading Usuthu to where they feel they belong, as regular challengers in all competitions, and that began with an overhaul of the squad ahead of the new season.
However, nine league games into the new Dstv Premiership season, Amazulu had registered three wins, two draws and four losses and were holding on to ninth place, a run of form that cost Truter his job in the end.
We take a look at possible candidates for the Amazulu top job:
Cavin Johnson
The 63-year-old Johnson has been without a club since departing Al Ahly as coach Pitso Mosimane’s assistant in October last year and the availability of a coach of that calibre puts him at the centre of the conversation.
With their desire to eclipse their levels of the past and forge a successful future with trophies, Usuthu’s profile will suit Johnson, if one considers his stints with Platinum Stars and Supersport United.
Ernst Middendorp
The German-born manager has been in and out the Premier Soccer League for almost 17 years now with a host of clubs.
Middendorp’s knowledge of the local game and his ability to turn somewhat mediocre groups of players into potentially title-winning teams – as he did with Kaizer Chiefs in the 2019/20 season – also suggest that Amazulu wouldn’t be making a huge mistake looking at him.
Stuart Baxter
Baxter has been linked with a move to the Kwazulu-natal-based side before, following his ugly parting of ways with Chiefs.
The Scotland-born mentor is a twotime Premiership champion, a threetime winner of the Nedbank Cup, and has an MTN8 winner’s medals with both Chiefs and Supersport, which is a clear indication of the type of success that follows him wherever he has been.
Though he comes under criticism
at times, the 69-year-old Baxter has proven himself to be a structurally astute manager who has taken teams to the next level, a trait the Usuthu faithful would love to see at their club.