Arthur Zwane WITH Vusumuzi Vilakazi's departure, time has come for Arthu Zwane to step up as a solo head coach.
Image: Sbonelo Ngcobo
AmaZulu Head Coach Arthur Zwane has issued a stern warning to his side ahead of their clash with Cape Town City, urging his players not to be deceived by the Citizens’ recent struggles under veteran coach Muhsin Ertugral.
City, who are yet to win an away game since Ertugral took charge in January, will be desperate to turn their fortunes around when they visit Usuthu at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday (3.30pm).
Despite their poor form on the road, Zwane remains wary of the threat they pose.
Since replacing Eric Tinkler, Ertugral started brightly with home wins over Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
However, their away performances have been dismal, with four consecutive league defeats and just one goal scored.
The team’s inconsistency has fueled criticism of Ertugral’s coaching methods, with some questioning whether his tactical approach has lost its effectiveness in modern football.
The 64-year-old mentor, who boasts an impressive résumé that includes roles with the Turkish national team and FIFA’s technical study groups, was quick to dismiss the criticism, calling it disrespectful.
The KwaZulu-Natal-based club will enter this fixture on the back of four consecutive home victories, but Zwane insists that form alone will not guarantee success.
“Don’t be fooled by their results,” Zwane cautioned.
“In football, results fluctuate. Just because they haven’t been getting wins doesn’t mean they aren’t playing well.
“They have a dangerous attack and defend as a unit. It’s only a matter of time before they start getting results again. They started well, but now they’re dropping points—that doesn’t mean they are not a well-coached team.
“We would be making a mistake if we approached this match thinking it will be easy just because they have lost five in a row. We also need the points, but it won’t be a walkover.”
Zwane’s caution carries personal weight. He previously played under Ertugral at Chiefs, where they won the CAF Confederation Cup in 2001 but suffered a 4-1 defeat to Al Ahly in the CAF Super Cup in 2002.
The Turkish coach also guided Chiefs to Telkom Knockout glory in 2007 and won the inaugural MTN8 under the telecoms giant in 2008/09.
Zwane himself played a key role during that era, notably scoring in a thrilling 2-2 Soweto Derby draw against Pirates in Durban during Ertugral’s second stint in 2007.
Despite their poor run, City has received a massive boost ahead of their trip to KwaZulu-Natal.
The club announced on Thursday the signing of former PSL Footballer of the Year Thulani Serero, a move that could add much-needed creativity and experience to their midfield.
With Serero’s arrival and City desperate for their first away win under Ertugral, Zwane’s men know they cannot afford to take their opponents lightly.
Sunday’s showdown promises to be a test of AmaZulu’s discipline and City’s resilience as both teams chase crucial points.