AmaZulu boss Zungu reveals no regrets in firing Benni

While AmaZulu have failed to remain at the top since Benni McCarthy’s departure from the club, president Sandile Zungu says he doesn’t regret firing the talented coach.

Zungu revealed why he didn’t retain McCarthy, adding that the former Bafana Bafana striker failed to meet his demands to finish in the top eight.

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Speaking to 947, the outspoken businessman instead praised Brandon Truter who is in charge of Sekhukhune, saying he is proud of hiring him as McCarthy’s successor.

AMAZULU BOSS ZUNGU DOESN’T REGRET FIRING BENNI

Despite McCarthy becoming the first coach to guide Usuthu to the second spot and reaching the lucrative CAF Champions League for the first time ever, Zungu shocked many when he pulled the trigger.

Owing to a string of poor results in the league, Zungu decided not to retain the former Cape Town City manager, McCarthy in the dying stages of the 2021/2022 DStv Premiership season.

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“To hire him was a great decision, especially in his first season. The second season…when we had discussions about what we were going to do about the final quarter,” Zungu told 947.

“I said, ‘Can you give me the commitment that we’ll get into the top eight?’ (Benni could not ensure) and I said, ‘No, I’m not going to go forward without a commitment and when that commitment was not forthcoming I knew exactly what to do, to make changes that would guarantee me a top-eight finish.”

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The ambitious club president, Zungu said Benni remains an icon in South African football but seems to praise Truter who ensured they qualified for the MTN8.

In the wake of McCarthy’s departure, the Durban-based top-flight club struggled leading the management to hire Truter who stabilised the sinking ship as they evaded the relegation axe in the following term – they finished 12th on the log table DStv.

After his departure from the domestic scene, the UEFA Champions League winner with FC Porto was unveiled by Manchester United in the English Premier League.

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Benni was roped in by manager Erik ten Hag as an attacking coach at Manchester United last season and would later explain that he wanted more support from the Usuthu hierarchy.

However, it seems Zungu doesn’t regret his decision while McCarthy continues to receive massive praise in the English Premier League.

“And I think employing Brandon Truter at the time was a great intervention and he secured us a top seven finish and it’s now common cause that we played in our first final of a top eight format in more than 50 years or almost 50 years,” Zungu added.

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“So, if you ask me, under the circumstances, would I take the same decision? Absolutely. It takes nothing away from Benni as a personality, a great South African, he remains an icon.”

Meanwhile, the club has since parted ways with Roman Folz and appointed a Spanish manager in the name of Pablo Franco Martin for the upcoming term.