Door not completely shut for Rama and Buchanan at Usuthu

AmaZulu FC president Sandile Zungu has opened the door again for Keagan Buchanan and Ramahlwe ‘Rama’ Mphahlele, who were recently let go by the club. 

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The duo’s exit from the club was confirmed by coach Romain Folz last week. But with Folz now redeployed, Zungu says the door is open for the duo. 

While the club didn’t make an official statement on what was happening with Mphahlele and Buchanan, speculation was that they had problems with Folz. 

It was widely reported that the duo were leading a group of players who were dissenting against Folz. 

And with the results not forthcoming, Folz was redeployed to a technical advisor role. But he will not be working directly with the team. 

Ayanda Dlamini will take over as coach until at least the end of the season. Folz will help Zungu with the club’s Vision 2032 programme. 

“We have not performed as well as we would have liked to,” Zungu said when he explained the sudden changes in the coaching department on Tuesday.

“Our position on the log is very unflattering, and not befitting of a club like AmaZulu. 

“With immediate effect, we have seen it necessary to make changes in the coaching staff 

“We have appointed Ayanda Dlamini to take over as caretaker coach until the end of the season.”

Usuthu change tune on Buchanan and Mphahlele

Later on on Tuesday when speaking to Thabiso Mosia on Radio 2000’s Game On, Zungu said Mphahlele and Buchanan can still play. 

“The players who were let go are still on our payroll,” said Zungu. “They are our players, so they must come back and sweat for their places. 

“Everyone has a chance. We saw with (Thabo) Qalinge and (Hendrik) Ekstein, they managed to come back from the wilderness,” added the Usuthu boss. 

"The players that were let go are still on our payroll. There are our players, so they must come back and sweat for their places. Everyone has a chance. We saw with Qalinge and Elston, they managed to come back from the wilderness"

— Tracksuit (@ThabisoMosia) April 4, 2023

Qalinge and Ekstein were relegated to train with the DStv Diski Challenge team at AmaZulu at the start of the season. 

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But when Dlamini was promoted to the senior team, he recommended to Folz that they be brought back and they have been doing well for the team. 

It looks like Dlamini will have his work cut out fixing the mess and reintegrating Buchanan and Mphlahlele back into the team.