The 35-year-old striker has been a "revelation" at Premier League rookies Vasco da Gama, according to the team's coach, Carlos das Neves.
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Sibusiso Zuma |
Zuma scored a stunning solo goal on Saturday night to help Vasco bury title-chasing Kaizer Chiefs at FNB stadium. The 3-2 win left Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic fuming but Das Neves was smiling from ear to ear.
Vasco have now collected 11 points from nine matches and Das Neves said his players on Saturday night had been "simply magnificent".
"We have been playing well against the big teams this season but with no luck until it all came together for us," he said. "We worked hard and deserved to beat Chiefs."
Das Neves, who runs his squad on a shoestring budget, heaped praise on veteran Zuma.
"He is an inspiration to the younger players, and on Saturday night we saw that he has lost none of his skills. He was simply brilliant out there, as he has been for us all season."
Zuma, a former Bafana Bafana star, was joined in the goalscoring ranks by Jonathan Armogam, who ran the shaky Chiefs defence ragged for much of the game, and by Jonathan Fransman, who got the winner.
But Das Neves stressed that a tough road lay ahead.
"The reality is that we do not have a sponsor to buy new players in the January transfer window and we know how difficult a battle it will be to stay in the PSL," he said.
"This win could be invaluable, not just for the three points, but for the way it has boosted the players' morale and built up confidence ahead of a tough relegation fight.
"Now we have to build on this performance."
The Vasco coach said he was concerned about the other clubs involved in the relegation battle.
"What worries me is that there are bigger clubs fighting in the relegation zone that I believe will be buying players and strengthening their squads," Das Neves said. "I am under no illusion as to the task ahead, but we have done well so far.
"The spirit from the players has been fantastic this season and we are going to fight all the way. We have shown that we deserve to be in the PSL and we aim to stay here."
The defeat placed serious question marks against Chiefs' ability to win the championship, and was a setback to the club ahead of Saturday's Telkom Knockout final against Orlando Pirates at the same venue.
Yesterday's Premier League: Bloem Celtic 1, Santos 0; Platinum Stars 0, Golden Arrows 0.
Source -Timeslive.co.za
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