‘Players came to training drunk’, says Brandon Truter 

Sekhukhune United coach Brandon Truter has stated that players came to training drunk during his tenure at AmaZulu FC.

‘Brakkies’ was back in Durban for a DStv Premiership clash over the weekend. AmaZulu beat Sekhukhune United 2-0 courtesy of goals from Ethan Brooks and Ramahlwe Mphahlele.

But Truter did not hold back when asked about alcohol issues at the club. The Cape Town-born coach spent seven months at the KZN outfit.

DUBE’S ALCOHOL CLAIMS

His remarks come barely a week after former Usuthu communications manager Phumlani Dube claimed there was an out-of-control ‘drinking culture’ at the club.

Dube held a press conference last week to clear the air over his acrimonious exit from the club last year in November.

He parted company with the club following allegations of assault on a female co-worker.

While clearing his name over the matter, he revealed the issue of players and officials imbibing unreasonably.

“Colleagues were drinking pretty much all day at the Carling Black Label Cup,” Dube said.

BRANDON TRUTER CORROBORATES CLAIMS

Truter has since corroborated the claims, adding that players were coming to training drunk.

“Yes, it’s true. I’m not going to lie for anybody, players came to training drunk, and I had to deal with it at one stage, so whoever said it is right,” Truter was quoted by SABC Sport.

He described some players as “rotten individuals”, citing that they cause a scene in the dressing room at halftime.

“There are some rotten individuals in there, within that squad – I have first-hand experience. At halftime, it gets heated in that dressing room, but I wish coach Cobra [Ayanda Dlamini] well.” 

Speaking to journalists after the Sekhukhune tie, Usuthu’s interim coach Dlamini slammed Dube over the claims saying, “Maybe we were getting drunk with you while you were here.”  

“Do you think these players would have played like this if they were drinking during the week or the night before? I am the coach right now, and if these things are being said, I have to protect my players because I need them – they can’t speak for themselves,” an infuriated Dlamini told journalists.

DLAMINI DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS

He fears such claims can potentially “destroy the players’ careers”. Some people, he says, may conclude they will not hire players from AmaZulu because of the allegations.

“There are still youngsters here who could still go overseas, and if people are saying this, what does it do to their image? If you have a problem with the team, address it respectfully.“

Dlamini was tasked to guide the Durban outfit in the last six games. This was after a string of poor results that saw the club slip to 12th position.

After three games, the former AmaZulu forward has won one, drawn one and lost one.

The four points collected have lifted them to 10th place.

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