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SABC Sport can reveal AmaZulu FC will not trigger the option on Dumisani Zuma’s contract, effectively making the striker a free agent.
Zuma joined Usuthu last season on a one-year contract with an option to extend for another three seasons at the club's discretion, according to his agent Basia Michaels.
It’s been confirmed to the public broadcaster by reliable insiders at AmaZulu that Zuma will be one of the high-profile names leaving Usuthu this week alongside several members of the backroom staff.
The Durban-based side signed the 28-year-old from Kaizer Chiefs, where he’d spent five years under different coaches, but left under a dark cloud before the start of the recently concluded 2022/23 campaign.
Zuma featured in 19 matches and scored one goal in a difficult season for Usuthu, having started with coach Brandon Truter, before he was sacked and replaced by Romain Folz. The Frenchman was also relieved of his coaching duties and technical director instead.
Ayanda Dlamini was in charge as interim coach for the remaining matches, but is not expected to take over full-time.
SABC Sport reported on Tuesday that Dutch mentor Alfons Groenendijk has been offered to AmaZulu as an alternative and made aware the UEFA Pro License holder is available from July 1. Groenendijk is currently assistant coach to Nuri Sahin at Antalyaspor in the Turkish Super League, but has rejected a new contract.
Even if he does not get the job at Usuthu, the incoming coach is likely to work with many new faces, with the club expected to make changes.
And Zuma is already one of the big casualties.
