by Benjamin Nyirenda
The newly established KwaZulu-Natal derby between AmaZulu FC and Royal AM in the DStv Premiership ended in a goalless draw on Saturday afternoon and Usuthu coach Benni McCarthy believes the rainy weather played a hand in the end result.
Speaking after the game, McCarthy said that the rain made it difficult for both teams to play their normal game.
The former Cape Town City FC coach also noted and highlighted Royal AM’s plan to use their attacking players to cause problems for Usuthu, which, according to McCarthy were well contained.
” This was one game where I saw all the departments from the goalkeeping to defence, midfield and striking work very well together. We also contained their attacking players but we could not just attack more ourselves as well. That was our down fall, ” McCarthy said.
He concluded by saying that he wanted to see his players being more composed when they reach last third of the field and take charge to control the call and use the chances they create to score goals.
Meanwhile Royal AM coach John Maduka said that yesterday was just not their day as most of their players were off.
“It’s true we did very well defensively and we kept a clean sheet but from the midfield going up they we were not good. You know if you have five or six players off then it’s going to be hard for the team,” Maduka said.
He added they could not penetrate the opposition defence and that gave them no chance to score and win the game.
” But as a team we are happy we managed to get a point knowing that we were playing a good team and we were playing away, ” Maduka concluded.