AmaZulu FC head coach Romain Folz stated that his side was never under threat during their MTN8 encounter against Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday.
The two teams drew 0-0 in a semi-final second-leg encounter at Moses Mabhida Stadium and it was Usuthu who progressed to the final having won on the tie on the away goals rule after drawing 1-1 on aggregate with Amakhosi.
Folz, who was in charge of his third match as Usuthu coach, felt that his defence was never under pressure during the match which saw the hosts create chances for the likes of Sphesihle Maduna and Augustine Chidi Kwem.
“We knew we were facing a good team that has a lot of quality. They had a lot of quality in every department on the field,” Folz said.
“So I was very pleased with how we did things tactically and the way the boys were able to execute everything I asked them to do.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t score in the first half, for many reasons. One of them was we lacked a little bit of an aggressive mindset going into the box, I thought we were a little bit too soft,” the 32-year-old continued.
“But the positive point is that, where we knew we could hit them, we were able to do that. What pleased me more than that is the fact that, at no point in the game I felt the team was under threat.
“I think our balance was very good, I think our capacity to intervene in the right areas and how to regain the ball and when to press and not to press, it was very good as well.”
The Usuthu defence was marshalled by the experienced Ramahlwe Mphahlele, while his central defence partner Abbubaker Mobara also had a good game.
“Our defending itself when it comes to crosses and all that, was very much on point. It tells me that, if we can keep that balance, if we can be a little bit more clinical when it comes to finishing, there’s a lot we can do,” the Frenchman added.
“I’m happy for the players, I’m happy for the club and I’m happy for our fans in the first place. From the coaching point of view, it is a game we should have won and it should have been a win for us.”
AmaZulu will now take on Folz’s former club, Marumo Gallants in a DStv Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday.
