AmaZulu coach Romain Folz says it is part of the job to make tough decisions to sideline some players when he was questioned about the absence of striker Gabadinho Mhango against Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.
Mhango, who puts his heart on the sleeve when he plays, was surprisingly absent against Amakhosi, with Folz currently seemingly favouring other players over the Malawi international.
The former Orlando Pirates striker’s place was taken by Junior Dion, who rewarded the Frenchman coach with a goal, netting the third as they hammered Chiefs 4-0.
Bongi Ntuli, who is returning from a long-term injury, scored the fourth while two Chiefs ex-players – Dumisani Zuma and Ramahlwe Mphahlele haunted their former club with the first two.
“You can ask that question about any player and I need to make decisions every week,’’ said Folz.
“There are a lot of sad players I have to put on the sidelines and this is part of the job. Sometimes it happens to the other players.
“So he was not in the squad because of the one and I believe that there’s no animosity.”
Meanwhile, Ntuli’s contract with Usuthu is running out at the end of the season and he has been mired by injuries in the last two campaigns.
Against Chiefs, the former Mamelodi Sundowns striker looked heavy and this goal was just his second in 10 league matches this season as Usuthu jumped to fifth place initially before Orlando Pirates reclaimed their spot on Saturday following their win over Golden Arrows.
“He just came back from a very bad injury,” said Folz whose win over Chiefs was just his second in the PSL career.
“We need to be careful on how we use him back in the team. Yes, he has a lot of quality and he has put in a lot of effort to be back especially with his injury.”
Usuthu next host Folz’s former club Marumo Gallants, who are lying at the bottom of the table at the moment, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday (20:00).
