As Arthur Zwane prepares to take on Soweto giants Orlando Pirates in his first Betway Premiership match alongside co-coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi, a former Kaizer Chiefs teammate of his applauded him for getting out of his comfort zone at Naturena.
Zwane and Vilakazi took charge of their first match together in the Carling Knockout last 16 last Friday, going down 2-1 to defending champions Stellenbosch FC, as Usuthu showed some promising signs under the guidance of a new technical team.
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After retiring as a player in 2010, with 252 appearances for Amakhosi, Zwane served in various coaching positions at Naturena, both at junior and senior level. The biggest was, of course, the head coaching role he had back in 2022/23, serving in just one of the three seasons he had signed for.
He spent 24 years at Chiefs and finally decided to spread his wings and see what life has for him outside the walls of Naturena. After the defeat to Stellies in the cup, Zwane and company have a big task of trying to overcome a Pirates side probably still reeling from the Carling Knockout exit suffered at the hands of rookies Magesi FC.
"There is one thing I believe in - God's timing is perfect. Arthur did well. He started his coaching career at Chiefs and he was given a big challenge and he managed it. I think it's a good time for him to spread his wings and take on that challenge outside Kaizer Chiefs. He will be able to see how far his career can go," Zwane's former teammate, Mokete Tsotetsi, said to the Siya crew.
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"He had been at Chiefs for a while, so maybe he was in a comfort zone, so now he has gone out of that comfort zone. I saw the first game (against Stellenbosch in the Carling Knockout) and I was happy with what I saw. I believe he is a good coach and he will do wonders at AmaZulu with coach Kanu (Vilakazi). The time is perfect for him to try something else and spread his wings."
Usuthu are currently bottom of the Premiership standings, with no points on the board. This job will certainly test Zwane and give him an opportunity to showcase his skills as a coach outside the walls of Naturena. And with president Sandile Zungu being a man of high standards, Zwane and Vilakazi have got no choice but to deliver.
