Ayanda Dlamini would be over the moon to one day take over as the permanent AmaZulu head coach but admits the interim job came as a surprise.
The KwaZulu-Natal local, who is also a former Usuthu striker, is currently leading the Absa Premiership outfit as interim boss while Jozef Vukusic is on special leave.
Dlamini made his mark emphatically two weeks ago, when AmaZulu shocked Kaizer Chiefs by beating them for the first time in 13 years, and he is eager to one day fill the head coaching role on a permanent basis.
"It has been my desire to coach one of the biggest teams in the country after I finished my career as a player and decided to pursue coaching. I won't lie, it is my desire to coach the club one day. Obviously, I have to respect the current coach until he sorts out all his things with the management," he said, as quoted by IOL.
"It is important that I give him the respect that he deserves but one day, I would love to coach AmaZulu. I believe that one day that dream will come true."
Dlamini did, however, admit that the job came sooner than he expected.
He added: "I wasn't expecting to be elevated to the first team of a big club like AmaZulu so soon. I must admit that. I was shocked when I was told that I'll be coaching the senior team.
"I'm learning a lot out of this experience. Whatever I'll take from this adventure will help build the coach that I want to be in future.
"Even now, I don't take myself as a big coach. I'm still humbled. I'm still an interim coach. That's the most important thing but what is even more important is to save the team from relegation.
"AmaZulu are very close to my heart. It will be a highlight for me to save them from relegation, I won't lie. AmaZulu put bread on my table."
AmaZulu are 15th in the Absa Premiership standings but only trail Baroka and Polokwane City on goal difference.
- TEAMtalk media