AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane issued a warning to his players after the team secured a narrow 1-0 victory over struggling Marumo Gallants at Princess Magogo stadium on Saturday afternoon during the Betway Premiership tournament.
This win marked AmaZulu's sixth match of the championship, allowing them to accumulate 13 points and level with defending champions Orlando Pirates, who played one fewer match. Both teams trail African champions Mamelodi Sundowns by seven points; the latter have played eight matches and managed a last-minute draw with Chippa United.
Zwane would typically note that securing three more points would keep them in the lead race, but he strongly advised his players not to lower their standards as the season progresses. After the match, Zwane expressed regret, stating: 'Instead of performing correctly, being focused and imposing our presence, we actually slowed down and allowed opponents to dictate terms from time to time.'
He added: 'I must honestly praise the players for pulling off this result, but I know we could have done better. We set the performance standards ourselves, and this is one game we want to quickly forget. However, on a positive note, we must ensure we continue to play as well as we started winning matches.'
Zwane is right to caution his team against complacency, as they are currently maintaining their level thanks to the impressive form of Zimbabwean striker Thandolwenkosi Ngwenyi. He scored his seventh goal of the season in August as the PSL player of the month.
The coach emphasized: 'We had great opportunities that we could have taken to increase the score. I cannot blame the players for their effort because ultimately, the goal was to get the maximum number of points, but I do not want us to lower our standards. We must make life difficult for any opposition when they come to AmaZulu.'
The self-assessment extended beyond the players to the coaching staff. Zwane stated: 'Regarding the issue you saw today, we cannot blame only the players. It might be related to training or somewhere else where problems begin. Even we, as coaches, must check ourselves regarding 'What did we do differently last week? Why did the energy level drop so sharply during the game?', since today we simply did not meet our usual playing style.'
Zwane's assessment is accurate, as the situation could have been different for the Durban side against a team that hadn't lost (four losses and two draws in six matches). Following the dismissal of coach Futi Mohafe mid-week, Gallants was led by 37-year-old Matome Matiane, who recently retired as the club's central defender. AmaZulu's next opponent will be Polokwane City, while Gallants will host Pirates next week.