AmaZulu FC coach Benni McCarthy has said some of his newly-recruited players are still finding their feet at the South African DStv Premiership side.

The former Bafana Bafana star said this in a post-match reaction to AmaZulu’s 2-1 loss to his former club Cape Town City in an MTN8 quarter-final match played on Sunday evening.

“I am pretty pleased with some of the performances from the new guys and how they integrated into the team and overall how the team played, we started a bit slow which was not our usual self,” McCarthy told the club’s website.

“But this is the start of a new season and some guys still need to get used to the way we do things.”

AmaZulu have signed nine new players namely Keagan Buchanan, Mxolisi Kunene, Matarr Ceesay, Tercious Malepe, Tshepang Moremi, Philani Zulu and Lindani Shange.

During the game, Terrence Mashego and Mduduzi Mdantsane scored for the Eric Tinkler men whereas AmaZulu found the target through Lehlohonolo Majoro.

McCarthy, who was named Coach of the Year 2020, said City executed their-game plan well adding that AmaZulu came into the game late.

 “They played counter-attack football really well and the speed they have up front and also the quality of the players, if you allow them the opportunities they can punish you,” McCarthy said.

“We wanted to avoid extra-time and penalties, we are missing 10+ players and we wanted to go for the game. We were forced into changes with [Augustine] Mulenga and [Keagan] Buchanan coming off which left us a bit vulnerable.”

AmaZulu, who finished last season on second place, start the 2021/22 season against Mamelodi Sundowns on Friday evening.

Additionally, the Durban-based side has been drawn against Nyasa Big Bullets in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.