Zwane Strives to Equal Benni McCarthy’s 54-Point Record

AmaZulu head coach Arthur Zwane emphasizes the importance of focusing on each match as Usuthu seeks to match the points total achieved under Benni McCarthy.

Under McCarthy’s leadership, the former Manchester United coach guided Usuthu to an impressive 54 points and a second-place finish in the Betway Premiership, marking the club’s highest accomplishment in the PSL era during the 2020/21 season.

Zwane is making significant progress towards that goal with a youthful squad averaging just 24 years, which has exceeded expectations in his inaugural full season compared to McCarthy’s more experienced players.

Presently, Usuthu has accumulated 42 points from 26 matches, placing them in fourth after a commanding 5-1 victory over Chippa United this past weekend. Securing wins in their last four games would see them reach the 54-point target.

However, reaching that total may not ensure a second-place finish, as Orlando Pirates currently lead with 59 points, while Kaizer Chiefs sit third with 47 points.

AmaZulu’s upcoming matches look promising: they will take on Golden Arrows at home on May 6, challenge bottom-placed Orbit College away on May 9, host Kaizer Chiefs on May 16, and wrap up the season against Durban City on May 23. Notably, their only away fixture outside Durban is against Orbit College.

Zwane recognized that his team has surpassed expectations, although they had set ambitious internal goals and aim to maintain their momentum in the remaining matches.

“What’s crucial is to take it one game at a time, season by season,” Zwane expressed.

“With this current group, we didn’t aim too high, to be candid, although we were indeed ambitious on the inside.

“We have strategically analyzed other teams and identified where we could exploit weaknesses. Early on, we realized that Orlando Pirates would be a significant competitor.

“The players can attest—we reviewed every team. We understood that Sundowns had players engaged in critical competitions, including the FIFA Club World Cup and the CAF Champions League.

“At times, that can impact their performance. If you look at Sundowns now, they don’t consistently exhibit the same intensity; they’ve learned to manage games effectively.

“In contrast, Pirates are relentless. We had to assess ourselves and ask: who can we realistically compete against, and where do we have the best chances?

“Kudos to the squad we’ve assembled. This season has been a ripe opportunity for many teams to capitalize if they had formulated plans effectively.

“The busy schedule is sure to affect Sundowns. This might be why they haven’t prioritized events like the Nedbank Cup.

“Juggling the Nedbank Cup, the Champions League, and international commitments can be daunting for players.

“We have our sights set on all teams, but Orlando Pirates stood out as our primary concern.”