New AmaZulu coach Romain Folz says it would have been ideal to have more time to prepare for the match against Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium on Friday (19:30).
Folz was appointed on Sunday and arrived in the country on Monday to be introduced to the players, after the sacking of Brandon Truter. His first training with Usuthu players started on Tuesday which means he only had three days to prepare for the match.
The 32-year-old, the youngest coach in the PSL currently, is coming to the side that has lost four of their last five league matches, which led to the departure of Truter. The Durban-based side is desperate to change the fortunes around.
“I wish I could have more time, but I have four to five days to adjust and try to get as many points across as I need to the players,” Folz said.
“But I’ll take it. But to be honest with you, we’ll have to find a way to adapt and try and get the maximum out of the team. But to answer your question, I still appreciate that I have four days. But I would have loved to have more but I’ll take what I have.”
The last time Usuthu won a league match was against Swallows in August, away. It was their third league win on the bounce to go top of the DStv Premiership standings with 10 points after four matches.
But after that, they lost to Golden Arrows, drew with Kaizer Chiefs, lost to Chippa United, lost to Mamelodi Sundowns and Richards Bay respectively. The latter match proved to be the end of the stay for coach Truter.
Despite things looking very dire at the moment for Usuthu, with close to two months without a league win, Folz says he will try all he can to change the club’s fortunes around.
“I will try to do my best, try to fulfil the expectation that we need in the team,” he said.
“There are things you can control and there are other things you cannot control. But as I said, I’ll try to do my best.”
Usuthu face a Pirates side that has its own issues, too. Despite holding Sundowns to a goalless draw in a big battle in the MTN8 semi-final first leg, the Soweto giants have not won in the last three matches in all competitions.
They have been struggling in front of goal and remained goalless in four out of their last five outings.
