AmaZulu co-coach Arthur Zwane has reaffirmed his confidence in Ghanaian goalkeeper Richard Ofori, describing him as a key figure in the team despite recent criticism.
Ofori played a crucial role in Usuthu’s 2-0 victory over Marumo Gallants, keeping a clean sheet and making crucial saves at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
His performance came just a week after he was involved in two costly errors in a draw against Kaizer Chiefs.
Zwane, alongside co-coach Vusumuzi “Kanu” Vilakazi, insists Ofori’s contributions far outweigh his mistakes.
“You know Richard has been one of our best players ever since we came on board. He has kept us in games on many occasions and has been outstanding, so we cannot crucify him for making two or three mistakes,” Zwane said.
“Football is a game of mistakes. He has played a huge role, and when he’s in goal, we are covered in many ways. He is a big boy, an international player, and very focused. Spiritually, he is also very strong, and people like that don’t succumb to pressure.”
Since arriving at AmaZulu late last year, Ofori has kept four clean sheets in 12 matches, coinciding with the start of the Zwane-Vilakazi era.
The team has registered seven wins, two draws, and six defeats across all competitions.
Zwane emphasised that improving AmaZulu’s finishing will ease the pressure on their defence and goalkeeper.
“You saw the save he made late in the game—if we had conceded, the last seven minutes would have been tough. I always tell the players, in football, when an opponent is down, you push them further down because they will do the same to you,” Zwane added.