Manqoba Mngqithi calls for united KZN football front

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi is eager to see football grow—not only for his own side but across the entire KwaZulu-Natal province.

Returning to the place where much of his success began, Mngqithi will lead Arrows into his first full season since rejoining the club in the middle of the last campaign after a lengthy spell with Mamelodi Sundowns, where he served as both assistant and head coach.

With two matches played already this season, the 54-year-old managed to bounce back from a disappointing 3-1 opening loss to Siwelele FC with a hard-fought 1-0 KZN derby win over Richards Bay on Wednesday.

Another derby awaits when league action resumes after the MTN8 break this weekend, with Abafana Bes’thende set to face a Gavin Hunt-led Durban City. As things stand, City boasts a perfect record in the league with two wins from two matches.

The Arrows coach was pleased that, despite their slow start, his side has managed to build some much-needed momentum ahead of that clash, following their victory over the Natal Rich Boys earlier this week and he hopes it will be the start of a strong run.

“Positive results ignite a bit of confidence,” Mngqithi said.

“And from that confidence maybe now we will start believing that we can do better, and the fact that we had preseason against these two teams (Richards Bay and Durban City) and we beat them well, one is hoping that we will be able to stamp our authority.

“We will just have to see what comes out of this, but I am very confident that the team we are building will be strong as the season progresses. A lot of the youngsters that are no-name players, by game number 15, we will be talking a different story.”

The former Sundowns coach has faith in the players currently at his disposal. He also called on supporters—who often give the bigger sides in the country an edge with their vocal backing—to play their part, not only for his team but for all sides in the province, as that would help strengthen football in KwaZulu-Natal.

Abafana Bes’thende last qualified for the top eight in the 2020/21 season, finishing fourth. While they have come close since, with a couple of ninth-place finishes in recent seasons, Mngqithi has challenged his team and other KZN clubs to push beyond their comfort zones in pursuit of better results for the benefit of the province.

“The fans give you energy and they drive a team,” Mngqithi continued.

“A football match without spectators will never lead to anything and I would like to urge our people that they must be together with us when we are trying to build this team.

“This team will be stronger with supporters because I have a bunch of talented players that I feel can make KZN an interesting place to be. 

“We need supporters to come in numbers and not only for Golden Arrows but also to come support our KZN teams because once we make KZN a fortress for us, and the other KZN teams, you can count how many points would remain in the province and how we can protect our teams from relegation and give a chance for our teams to fight for better positions.

“Not necessarily the top eight, because I also think KZN teams must outgrow this thing of fighting for the top eight and fight for the top four or five....Why not?”