ZUNGU’S SHIBOBO ON BENNI!

I’m a Sundowns fan, but I’m very concerned and worried about the decision taken by AmaZulu FC of parting ways with coach Benni. We may not know exactly what was happening behind closed doors, but eish, after so much work done by Benni, this is a setback. Last season, he finished in second position, thus guiding the team to their first ever CAF Champions League appearance, where he reached the group stage. Playing in the Champions League requires depth and AmaZulu don’t have that. Obviously, playing in Africa and in the DStv Premiership will always be difficult and fatigue will catch up with players. That’s when you need depth, as in the case of Sundowns. This takes me back to the issue of Mr Zungu instructing the technical team not to play Sithebe after he signed a pre-contract with Chiefs. AmaZulu needed the guy’s experience, but unfortunately, he was sidelined. With coach Benni gone, let’s see what is going to happen under Truter. Shame on you, Mr Zungu. I wish Benni all the best. Simanga Barnes Hadebe, Sundowns Estcourt Branch

I was shocked when Benni was sacked by AmaZulu FC. I don’t know whether the reason is because he promised to do better than Chiefs in the Champions League or is it due to the Sithebe saga, which I doubt the coach had anything to do with? Or is it a clash of personalities since the former Bafana marksman is known to be volatile and will never call a spade a garden tool? I cannot wait for Soccer Laduma to do the right thing and interview jersey number 17 to get his side of the story. AmaZulu are also not performing well locally, but maybe Mr Zungu forgot that a Leicester-style performance comes only once in a very long time. This really proves that loyalty and past results do not count for anything because Benni took them from an average team to the Champions League. I just pray that the team does not go back to the yo-yo years. Good luck to coach Truter. Perhaps it is about time Bucs pounce on their target while he’s still available as he’ll definitely not be short of admirers. Amos Tshukudu, Ga-Maria

It does not rain but pour for Benni. He promised his boss Mr Zungu the CAF Champions League trophy, but he did not deliver. When the competition began, he said that he would do better than Chiefs, who reached the final last season. AmaZulu FC did not even reach the quarterfinals. I want to warn him that next time, be careful what you promise your bosses. Look what happened to you now! Nyambeni Samson Khuphani, Tshiawelo Ext 5

I didn’t believe it when the news of Benni being fired by AmaZulu FC started making the rounds. Not even in my wildest dreams would I have thought that he would be sacked considering the club’s position on the log and the way they are playing of late. Yes, in the continental campaign, they were not doing well, but still, I really don’t know what informed the decision. Mr Zungu needs to take better decisions because he suspended Sithebe, one of the most important players in his team, and now it’s Benni getting the axe. In the league, they are in a safe position and the season is nearly over, yet they fire the coach at this point. AmaZulu has been one of the strongest teams this season, playing good football and getting vital results here and there, and now the team has to adjust to the methods of the new coach. Well, who are we to question the decision of Mr Zungu? Suffice to say we have to live with it. We have to wait and see how the team will respond. To coach McCarthy, the coaching journey is a rocky one, long and winding. Just be strong and avoid making some of the mistakes you’ve made. You will grow and become a better coach. Madimetja Vic Mashamaite, Renstown

The parting of ways between Benni and AmaZulu FC caught me with my pants down. He has made them a fearsome team and it’s just that now they were in a rough patch, which does occur to every club. Had they managed to turn only half of their draws into wins, we would be talking a different story about their log standing. The brand of football that AmaZulu were playing under coach Benni was very pleasing to the eye. Mr Zungu has taken a harsh decision and he will realise that later. Here’s wishing you everything of the best in your future endeavours, coach Benni, and I’m sure you will find a team very soon, be it locally or abroad. Siyabonga Nkalambela, Delft

Football is about results. Benni’s departure was inevitable when you look at AmaZulu FC’s recent results. Mr Zungu was forced to make a call to protect his club’s brand, though some may perceive his reaction as premature and ruthless. He was patient enough for Benni to turn the fortunes around, but the coach failed to do so. I wish to see continuation and for those familiar with the club’s philosophy, like Nomvethe, to be given a chance. This man deserves it for his chemistry with the Usuthu players. Having a local coach at the helm doesn’t just benefit the club but the entire country’s football. These foreign coaches are only here to milk our teams’ coffers, seeking immediate results with no apparent effort to promote our philosophy. I hope Mr Zungu will plan for the future to build long-term goals for his club with those who are familiar with its philosophy. Wandile Mtana, Uitenhage

The musical chairs are now hitting coaches left, right and centre in our PSL at this time of wrapping up the season. We are all shocked about

Usuthu management deciding to part ways with Benni after he did a great job. I mean, we last saw them achieving in the late 1980s. I personally don’t want to poke my nose in the chairman and management’s business, but I wish to raise my disappointment regarding the way we treat our coaches in this country. I think we lack in terms of giving them freedom to work without any pressure. We must remember that Rome wasn’t built in one day. What has Truter achieved more than Benni? I smell the downfall of Usuthu. Shoesman Sibiya, Kwa-Vuthela, Ulundi

How can AmaZulu FC fire Benni? This Zungu guy is a joke. One moment he is contesting Sihle Zikalala for the ANC provincial chairperson position and the next moment he withdraws. He’s not serious this one and people of Durban must not take him seriously. I remember him saying he’s going to challenge Sundowns, but let’s be fair, can you challenge Sundowns with those players? He must first challenge himself. Stephen Mpya, Mamphulo village

The divorce between Benni and AmaZulu FC left many football fans so flabbergasted. If rumours that Baxter might join Usuthu, with Benni linking up with one of the Soweto giants are true, I feel sorry for Benni as I believe that he’s not ready to cope with such pressure. My advice to him is that he must not rush into coaching bigger teams, especially Chiefs. Pirates should stick to their co-coaches until they bring a more experienced coach on board. Sphelele “SS13” Shozi, Dududu Ward 19

BAXTER ON THIN ICE?

When my team, which I have been passionate about since 1974, is going to play, I will be on all soccer news platforms, checking on the fitness of my players, injuries etc. I know that the starting XI will be out at least an hour before the game. When I checked the Chiefs line-up two Saturdays ago, I instinctively knew a loss was coming and decided to spare myself the torture. Plainly speaking, Baxter is a bang gat. He plays the same tactics… no wonder he lost. It is like he is conniving to lose. How do you trail in the first five minutes and withdraw midfielders for defenders? Well, he is a professor compared to us supporters, yet I truly believe we can select a winning team that can deliver better than this old-style soccer. Please pack and go as you will never change, journeyman! Poor Zwane, he’s always a forlorn individual on that bench. We had a similar experience last season and management pulled the trigger on Hunt right on time, and we just made it to the Top Eight. Please do it again and we’ll book a Champions League spot at a canter. Mzwandile Tembo, Welkom

If Chiefs can hire Benni as their head coach, that would be their demise and it would mean that they have committed suicide (i.e. stabbing themselves in the back). Not Benni, no, no, no, no! Peter Ka-Sipho, Mhluzi Ext 6, Middelburg, Mpumalanga

A lot of Chiefs supporters and the media seem to have a problem with Baxter’s deployment of Njabulo Ngcobo in midfield. I have to admit that as a Chiefs supporter, it also

frustrates me, but after last week’s Soccer Laduma piece on the player, I’m having an open mind about it. With his preferred style of play, I think we need to understand because he’s responsible for the results, good or bad. We must also remember that he’s one coach who got the best out of Parker, Mathoho, Mashamaite and Masango, just to name a few. Pitso changed Morena, Lakay and Coetzee from their original positions and the results are there for everyone to see. I’m not encouraging the change of players’ positions, but coaches spend enough time with these players and are able to see things that we don’t. Recently, Shandu benefited from such a switch and we are happy for him. Baxter might not be a good coach (as far as some supporters are concerned), but he should be given space to implement his ideas and be judged fairly. Thank you very much, Soccer Laduma, for giving an ordinary supporter an idea of what coach Baxter could be thinking about Ngcobo. For the sake of both Baxter and Ngcobo, I hope it works out. Malesela “Dance” Boya, Kanana, Hammanskraal

If the rumour of letting Baxter leave at the end of the season is true, that’s a great decision from the management. His philosophy and methods don’t fit Chiefs. The only Mzansi manager who can manage Amakhosi well is none other than Farouk Khan. Bobby and Kaizer Motaung Jnr. must bring back that man. I don’t see Benni succeeding at Chiefs. Nghamula Rikhotso-Nkonwana, Mageva village

It’s quite regrettable that we find ourselves having tohateacoachthathada very good first stint with the team. As the saying goes, second time around is not normally a success. Let’s face the facts, even in his first tenure, Baxter was a very defensive coach, so there is nothing new in his philosophy. The difference is that the first time around he had Bafana material in his squad – i.e. Letsholonyane, Shabba, etc. So, in all fairness, this man is simply not suited for Chiefs with the current crop of players. Benni is now available. I think he’s worth a try. And the sooner, the better before these talented young players are completely demoralised. South African coaches are doing a great job in the PSL lately, so it will be appreciated if Chiefs can try one of them. Hofmeyr Kwitshana, via email

Quick One-Two’s

After the verdict on Chiefs’ no-show matter, it’s now obvious that the PSL is like the Animal Farm and this is simply as a result of influential club bosses being at the helm of the League. It’s obvious that one can’t run the show and receive ‘unfavourable’ results. My question is, is this permission for other teams to break the law as long as they can reason? Because what is in the rulebook is the law, which can only be reviewed if there are concerns. Yes, it was not properly thought-out as COVID-19 was a menace, but the same reason Cape Umoya missed their game and were docked points is no different to what Chiefs did and until the rulebook was reviewed, there was no reason for Chiefs not to face the same sanction. This simply means our league is now officially a joke and dearly needs intervention. In the same breath, I challenge sponsors to wake up and stop the rot or alternatively take their monies away for the sake of their dignity. I hear that Chiefs did this to save lives, but what does the rulebook say? Were Cape Umoya not doing the same? For now, we’ll continue watching this league because there’s no alternative, but my goodness, how amateurish… Romario Koos Machacha, Emalahleni

It is now a proven fact that Fair Play in football is nothing but theory. It shows also that Chiefs will continue to benefit from their popularity status. They did not show up for their two games, citing a COVID-19 outbreak in their camp. They are now given an opportunity to play the games that they did not show up for. Cape Umoya were docked three points for not showing up to a game due the same challenges that Chiefs endured. The question is would Cape Umoya have been granted permission to replay their game if they had not sold their status? The answer is a big NO. But Chiefs have been granted that opportunity by lawyers. The playing fields should be level for all teams. The PSL is now like the Animal Farm. Equal treatment is needed in football, irrespective of who you are. Mosa Mothobi, Ga-Rankuwa

First, let me acknowledge that coach Pitso has created a beast out of Sundowns, a beast that is not going to be easy to demolish anytime soon, and, in the process, made a name for himself or his brand. I, for one, will always be grateful for that as we’re no longer just an ordinary team and he’ll always have a special place among the Masandawana who appreciate him, myself included. Thank you very much, Sir “Jingles”. Now, can he man up and name the individual in the Sundowns hierarchy that seems to have a problem with his achievements? He himself said that it’s only the one individual that seems to be after him, who forced his departure from the team in the first place and is the orchestra of the two incidents during his visits with his team for CAF commitments against Sundowns. I say this because I feel that disclosing the name will help him one way or the other. He should also disclose the reasons for this conflict. Upon winning the league with Sundowns before his departure, he said that even though he won, it wasn’t easy as some of the senior officials were not supportive and wished for him to fail. Please, just for once, have balls and give us the name(s) of the perpetrator(s) and the source of all this as I know you as a person who tells it the way you see it. Jimmy Thomas, Elliot, Eastern Cape

Granted, football is a game of emotions and opinions, but some individuals have regrettably allowed emotions to get the better of them. I’m referring here to the likes of Pitso, Sandile Zungu and, recently, Mngqithi. Mosimane’s verbal diarrhoea against Chiefs while still Sundowns coach is well-documented. Fast-forward to 2022, Amakhosi came to the aid of the very same Pitso’s Al Ahly when they offered his team training facilities in preparation for their game against Downs. Zungu also tore into Chiefs regarding the Sithebe debacle. He further sidelined the player for having signed a pre-contract with the Soweto giants, much to the disapproval of Benni. Now that the results are not forthcoming, he pulls the trig