AmaZulu’s season to forget
Ntuli is showing Usuthu the way
AMAZULU have endured turbulent times this season, but they still have time to turn their fortunes around and cement their PSL status should the PSL resume after the national lockdown.
Usuthu got off to a poor start, failing to bag full points early in the season. Following a string of bad results and poor displays, AmaZulu parted ways with coach Cavin Johnson.
The club appointed Jozef Vukusic as his replacement. There was a wave of optimism when the Serbian took over the reins, but he also struggled to lead the club back to winning ways. As a result, Vukusic was placed on special leave and looks set to leave the club at the end of the season.
Ayanda Dlamini and Moeneeb Josephs are currently steering the AmaZulu ship on an interim basis. The duo is being tasked with saving the club from relegation, while settlement with Vukusic is being reached.
It’s been doom and gloom for the Durban outfit this season. The club have over-relied on Bongi Ntuli for goals. The lanky talisman has notched 12 strikes. In total, AmaZulu have scored 14 times and have also been found wanting at the back.
Johnson only knows one way to play. He puts more emphasis on attack. He is one of those who fights fire with fire. It doesn’t matter whether his team
AFRICA’S most popular mixed martial arts promotion – the Extreme Fighting Championship – has come under fire for failing to pay one of its contracted workers for a job dating back to April 2019.
Disgruntled Cape Peninsula University of Technology student and part-time model, Lisolam Makiwane is yet to receive R1 000 for a job done at EFC78, despite numerous attempts in reaching out to the organisation for her payment.
Blush Promotions’ Lisolam was booked for a last-minute ring-girl job at Grand West Casino on the 13 April 2019 for a big fight-night headlined by EFC bantamweight champion, JP Buys and interim bantamweight champion, Luthando Biko – for the belt-unification. is playing home or away. Attacking the opposition is in his DNA. But that can sometimes be risky. Top teams can expose you when you rely on one aspect to win games. Maybe that’s what led to his demise at AmaZulu.
On the other hand, it’s been very difficult to comprehend Vukusic. His tactical acumen has been questionable. He has converted several players from their natural positions and that hasn’t borne any fruit.
Dlamini started his tenure on a high note by beating the PSL leaders, Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium. That was a monumental victory for an upstart coach and an injection of hope that AmaZulu desperately needed. Dlamini gave AmaZulu a reason to believe that they can avoid relegation.
Dlamini went in with a logical approach by beefing up their defence and playing on transition. The plan worked wonders against Chiefs, but can he sustain his good start? Only time will tell.
AmaZulu’s strengths this campaign have been their game management skills. They’ve lost one game where they have taken the lead. That was against Highlands Park at the start of the season.
But they have beaten the likes of Cape Town City, Stellenbosch FC, Baroka FC, Polokwane City and Kaizer Chiefs after taking the lead. AmaZulu had to come back from behind to beat Bloemfontein Celtic.
They have failed to turn their chances into goals. Only Ntuli has mastered that art. They are the lowest scorers in the league with 14 goals. “Thirty days passed and Blush Promotions director, Sheara Murphy said that she had not been paid by the EFC yet,” Lisolam said.
Ntuli boasts a 50% strike rate for AmaZulu, having scored 14 goals in 24 games. He has scored 80% of AmaZulu’s goals this season and is a pillar of strength for his team.
Dlamini: “AmaZulu are very close to my heart. It will be a highlight for me to save them from relegation, I won’t lie. AmaZulu put bread on my table. They make my family happy.
“No special arrangements were made in terms of late or delayed payments. So at first I thought maybe Sheara was lying. I got in contact with the other ring girl only to find out that she’s been paid by her agency, Spotlight Agency.”
Lisolam then contacted Spotlight’s Joshua Africa only to find out that they also haven’t received any payment from the EFC.
In June Blush Promotions asked Lisolam to contact the EFC directly. “Sheara gave me the number and said that I should speak directly to the EFC because she was not getting any feedback, and that she’s not even getting an incentive for that job,” Lisolam said.
“I didn’t understand this, as I was booked through Blush Promotions – they were supposed to be my representatives.
“EFC production manager, Rowina Dawson told me about the bankruptcy issues, that a big sponsor had not paid up and that I should just be patient.”
In the meantime, EFC events had continued with EFC79 (May) and EFC80 (June).
“Weeks later I texted Rowina again, she then told me she does not deal with individuals and requested that Blush Promotions Company contact them,” Lisolam said.
“It took Rowina a week before she responded to Blush Promotions
That’s why I want to do everything in my power to make sure that I help in saving the team from relegation. It will be a special achievement in my career.”
again, stating that she’s awaiting response from the finance department.”
In July, Lisolam took to the EFC Twitter page before they told her to email them again to get things sorted.
“I did just that, and there was no reply to the email... A week passed... I reverted back to their Twitter page but they just blocked me on social media, even Sheara blocked me on Whatsapp,” Lisolam said.
Up until today Spotlight’s Joshua – whose ring girl only got her payment at the end of 2019 – and Lisolam are still trying to get the thirdyear horticultural sciences student paid.
“What gets me most is their nerve to run more than five additional fightnights across South Africa and still tell the public they don’t have funds due to sponsors pulling out,” Joshua said.
“The business climate in South Africa is quite difficult at the moment. EFC is unfortunately under financial pressure and constraints,” said Calvin Howarth, EFC (Pty) Ltd director, when asked for comment on the situation in February.
“The company’s cash flow isn’t great at the moment and a few payments to suppliers have been delayed. We are working on resolving these issues,” he added after hosting five MMA events since EFC78.