AmaZulu club chairman Sandile Zungu has commented on the club's bizarre managerial change shortly after extending Romain Folz's contract amid numerous squad changes.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the football fraternity, AmaZulu announced on Tuesday that Folz had been 'redeployed' to the role of technical director, while Ayanda Dlamini takes over as interim head coach for the rest of the season.
Usuthu's form has underwhelming this season, with the Durban-based outfit collecting just four wins in 27 matches under Folz. However, the move was still somewhat surprising considering that Folz had been handed a fresh three-year contract just a month ago.
READ | Folz OUT as AmaZulu make managerial change
Club Chairman Sandile Zungu has has cleared the air on the matter.
"I've been one of the most unequivocal supporters of Romain Folz," Zungu told Sport Night Amplified With Andile Ncube on Tuesday night.
"I've had discussions with the players, with the coaches as well. Some sentiments that were expressed were quite frank in confidence.
"What you will find is no coach is perfect and every coach who coach who introduces a certain style of coaching will be question by those who are accustomed to certain style but the fact for the matter is someone has got to have his head on the block, the bus has got to stop at some door and often it is the coach.
"I'm one of those firm believers that if we are to progress as a team, as a nation in soccer, there has got to be a certain level of discipline displayed by those who are coached and they've got to acclimatise.
"I've retained him [Folz] as technical director to advise me, because 'I've got a vision 2032, which among other issues, talks about what kind of team, how it needs to be organised to be a formidable force and there are very intricate aspects of which I've charged him with the developing for me in the manual form before the end of the season.
"The truth of the matter is that I have believed in him because I have seen his approach to the game.
"Possibly where his shortcoming has manifested itself in the team is his capacity to win the respect, to maintain and sustain the respect among those that have got to deliver for him.
"If you remember, this is the same guy that took us to the final of MTN8 cup and gave Pirates a good run for their money, and we could have won that game."
ALSO READ | AmaZulu provide update on George Maluleka after scary on-field incident
In addition to a poor run of results, Folz reportedly fell out with a number of players at the club. Recently, Keagan Buchanan and Ramahlwe Mphahlele were expelled from the club.
"It's gross exaggeration to say that he [Folz] lost the changeroom. It's a narrative that reflects badly on AmaZulu as a brand; that change rooms are lost and won, its not true," added Zungu.
"Some players' approaches to changes can be a lot more robust and less submissive than others, but that's' how it is, these are highly professional people, both coaches and players and they've got to find their own equilibrium where they earn each others respect.
AmaZulu sit 12th on the DStv Premiership with six matches to play and will be looking to secure a top eight finish.
You must be Sign In to post and read comments.
Click here to register: Sign In