Ramahlwe Mphahlele returns to AmaZulu following Romain Folz redeployment

Folz had expelled the centre back, arguing he – along with midfielder Keagan Buchanan – were disruptive in the dressing room. 

But his decision has been overturned by interim coach Ayanda Dlamini, who was the assistant during the brief spell the Frenchman was at the helm.

Mphahlele was told to stop training with the rest of the team after their defeat away to Stellenbosch FC before the Fifa break, while Buchanan was out of the picture a week or so prior to the fixture in the Winelands. 

“We took the decision to let them go elsewhere because I believe that it’s best for the team and best for the club. I always do what’s best for the team, that’s my only priority. We have a clear vision on where we want to go. It’s a process, things don’t just happen so you have to make decisions. Every decision that we take is for the benefit of the team and looking to improve what we have,” Folz told journalists last month. 

SABC Sport understands that Mphahlele, along with other senior players, questioned the coach as results took a turn for the worse. 

His reaction was to expel them, but Dlamini has brought the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs defender back ahead of Usuthu facing Cape Town City away from home on Sunday in the DStv Premiership. 

Speaking on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with host Andile Ncube on Tuesday night explaining the technical team changes, chairman Sandile Zungu had confirmed it was up to Dlamini whether Mphahlele and Buchanan would be recalled. 

AmaZulu are four points above Maritzburg United, who are at risk of facing the relegation play-offs to rescue their topflight status, with six games to go.