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Benni pleads with AmaZulu bosses to sign free-agent Xulu

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Siyanda Xulu of South Africa leads the team for warm up during the 2022 World Cup Qualifier South Africa Training Session on the 05 September 2021 at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

AmaZulu head coach Benni McCarthy has praised the impact that Siyanda Xulu has had since he began training with Ushutu adding that he hopes they can finalise a deal with the defender soon.

Central defender Xulu is without a club after he parted ways with Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Tel Aviv after a falling out with the coaching staff and hierarchy.

He then returned to South Africa and still received a call up to Bafana Bafana’s squad to play Guinea and France on their European tour during the international break and subsequently requested to train with AmaZulu in his home province to keep fit.

Speaking in the build up to Ushutu’s Caf Champions League clash against Raja Casablanca on Friday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, McCarthy lavished the defender with praise as he pushed for him to be signed by the club.

“He’s a breath of fresh air, he brings a lot of experience. The leadership quality he portrays; you know when a player has it, when you have class, it’s permanent, and he is one of those players. You can see it rubbing off on my team,” said McCarthy.

“Everyone is starting to talk because Siyanda Xulu, not even an AmaZulu player, has leadership qualities, talking and dictating to players. You want good, influential players to come and rub off on others the right way.

“It’s been super positive, I hope the club has it within it to make him an addition to the squad. We can still qualify for CAF and we have seven games to save our season to get into the top four. He’s not a bad addition to have in the team,” said the former Bafana Bafana international.

AmaZulu are still hoping to seal their progression to the knockout stages of the Champions League and currently sit on six points in third place, level on points with second place ES Setif and three points Friday’s opponents Raja, while Horoya are last in the group with three points.

“It will be a high-pressure game, they must take it as a privilege,” said McCarthy.

“We’re ready, we have done our part as the coaching staff, it’s now all down to the players to go out and perform at a level they know they can play and reach.

“The players must take the fight, they must show how bad they want it. They know how hard we have worked for it. As good as Raja is, it’s our time now. We coaches have done our job, it’s up to the players now,” said the 2004 Uefa Champions League winner with Porto.