We can win the league
On the 2-1 win over TS Galaxy after Sundowns draw
We prepared very well for the TS Galaxy game and we were ready for them. We were playing at home and the good thing we did was that we applied ourselves very well and corrected the mistakes that we made in the previous game. We worked on finishing the scoring chances that we create. Our technical team encouraged us to apply ourselves better and to use our energy to put TS Galaxy under pressure. We were disappointed that we didn’t win against Mamelodi Sundowns in the previous game as we had also been playing at home. At this stage of the season, we take each and every game as a cup final and we didn’t care much about how Sundowns played, all we wanted was to get the three points and we will see at the end of the season what will happen.
On AmaZulu possibly overtaking Sundowns
It is possible that we can win the league. But I don’t want to be too ambitious and start making claims that we will win the league because Sundowns is one of the teams that are rated highly in football. They are one cub that is consistently representing us well in Africa with how well they play. Sundowns has also played two games less than us and that also needs to be taken into consideration. Sundowns is not a team that looks like it’s going to lose in any match that they play and it’s usually by luck that a team gets a win against them. Their style of play is admirable. Going back to what Mr Sandile Zungu (AmaZulu FC president) said about wanting the team to be among the top four clubs in the country, it sounded like something that wouldn’t be achieved when he said that because we are competing with very good teams in the league. But now that it’s happening, I do also believe that we can be a top four club in the country and in the league. Our coach, Benni McCarthy, and his technical team have given us a lot of confidence because they believe in us.
On what McCarthy has told them ahead of CT City tie
I think it’s going to be a tough game because they will be playing at home. They are back to winning ways and have now won three games in a row. But we have also been winning and we have prepared well for the game. All that we have to guard against is being overconfident and thinking that we can beat any team in the league. I think from our performances against Sundowns and TS Galaxy and from all the other games that we have played recently, we stand a chance against Cape Town City. We just have to approach the game with the right mindset, and anything is possible. We just have to limit the mistakes we make to avoid getting punished. I know that there will be mistakes here and there in a game of football, but when we make them, they have to be in the right areas on the field. I know that this is a game that means a lot to the coach and we have to win it for him. He has spoken about it and emphasised the importance of us winning it. Like I said earlier, each and every game is like a cup final and with each and every game that goes by, the season is nearing an end. Every team wants to be in the Top Eight. It’s up to us as players to ensure that we do well to win the game, although it won’t be easy as no team will want to lose on the afternoon.
On the mood in the Usuthu camp
It is a great feeling to be an AmaZulu player because we enjoy going to training each and every day as we have coaches that are very encouraging. The competition among the players is healthy. As players, we always look forward to going to training to work hard and everyone wants to play. We are a happy family, and we push each other and the mood in camp is high. The coaches keep reminding us to guard against complacency now that we have been winning games. There are no negative things that are disrupting us from what we do and what we are trying to achieve. Our focus is on the job at hand and that is to collect three points from each and every game that we play.
On playing regularly despite facing serious competition
I would like to thank God for the talent, and I would also like to thank my family for their support in what I do. I would like to thank the coach for giving me a chance to play in the team because ever since he arrived at the club, he showed that he believes in me. I am happy that my game has improved, and I am making less mistakes in a game than in the past. I am not committing any unnecessary fouls like I did before, and I think studying the videos of my previous games is helping me a lot to better my performances. I give myself time to look at my mistakes and work on rectifying them. I am very happy that I am injury-free, and I don’t remember getting injured since I arrived here. I think the coach has given me the confidence to play simple and he has encouraged me that one can be the best payer even if he plays simple and without complicating things by dribbling and stuff like that. I’m not a dribbling person and I just receive the ball and look to play it forward every time. Since the coach arrived, I have been playing like that and I’m happy that I am playing under a coach who believes in me like he does. I’m not saying that my previous coaches didn’t believe in me, but I think Benni believes in me more. I think he believes that he can form the spine of the team around me and it’s important for me not to make too many mistakes to save the team from the danger of getting punished. I am grateful to Benni and his technical team for the wonderful work they are doing with the team. I am now seen as a good player who can help the team and not just the player that I was before, who used to kick people. I think I’ve got only one yellow card so far this season.