New AmaZulu head coach Pablo Franco says the experience of facing Orlando Pirates in the CAF Confederation Cup gives him the confidence to compete in the DStv Premiership.
AmaZulu announced on Tuesday that following an in-depth interviewing process the club had decided to rope in the former Simba SC head coach and Real Madrid assistant head coach to take over the helm at Usuthu.
READ | AmaZulu announce former Real Madrid assistant as new coach
Already nicknamed 'Cijimbi', by Zungu, Franco takes over from interim head coach Ayanda Dlamini, while former head coach-turned-technical director Romain Folz opted to part ways with the club.
Franco was at the helm when his side went head-to-head with the Buccaneers in the quarter-finals of the 2021/22 CAF Confederations Cup.
"I'm really excited. I've known for a long time about AmaZulu. I know how huge and important the club is," Franco told the club's media.
"I'm going there [to AmaZulu] with the intention to make history and bring the team back to where it deserves and to make everyone, especially fans of the club, be proud of the job that we do.
"I've watched the PSL for a long time, for around four or five years. I've also coached some players that played in that league and I often talk to them and discuss the level there. I know it's a very competitive league. Any one team can beat any opponent.
"I already have experienced playing against Orlando Pirates last season (2021/22) in the CAF [Confederation Cup] and at that time you could see the difference in level between for example, teams from Tanzania, even if it's a huge team like Simba, and Orlando Pirates.
"But anyway, we were capable of competing with them and that's my intention. If I could do it with Simba being a bit inferior, I'm sure with AmaZulu, I will be capable of performing and fighting for tournaments and like I said, to bring the team back to the place it deserves."
Meanwhile, AmaZulu have parted ways with as many as 11 players ahead of the new season.
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