Pressure mounts on Manqoba Mngqithi as Golden Arrows face Richards Bay

LAMONTVILLE Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi is skating on thin ice, and he has to quickly find solutions to the club’s woeful form if he is to buy himself some time at the helm.

Mngqithi suffered his sixth successive loss in the Betway Premiership against Kaizer Chiefs in their last match. He bemoaned that Chiefs’ lone goal should have been ruled offside, lamenting the fact that such calls cost clubs millions and coaches their jobs due to the absence of VAR.

While Mngqithi was spot on in calling for the technology system, he still does not know what has been going wrong with his team. Asked at the same post-match interview what had been going wrong for the team – aside from the poor decisions that have gone against them – he said: “I don’t know.”

Well, unfortunately, Mngqithi has to know. He is supposed to be the brains behind the team’s operations, and whenever there is something going wrong with their style of play, conversion rate, and defensive structure, he must account.

Granted, Arrows have not been able to sign players due to a FIFA-ban, but Mngqithi has to make do with what he has and strive for results – at least a point against the familiar so-called “small teams”.

But not all is lost for Abafana Bes’thende; since returning to the club after being sacked by Mamelodi Sundowns last season, Arrows have played some eye-catching football. As such, players such as Siyanda Ndlovu have been in fine form this season, scoring three goals and registering four assists in 15 league matches.

Ndlovu and the rest of the players who have impressed cannot afford to do it alone. They need efficient strikers and a solid defensive wall.

Those traits need to come to the fore when they visit Richards Bay at Richards Bay Stadium on Friday night (7.30pm kick-off). On paper, Abafana Bes’thende should be favourites to win the game, but they will know that undermining the Natal Rich Boyz at their own peril would be costly.

Bay have had a lukewarm campaign so far. They are ninth on the log with 18 points, two ahead of Arrows, who have played one game fewer.

The Natal Rich Boyz should have done better in their league position. They bolstered the squad with some notable new signings during the winter transfer window, including talisman Gabadinho Mhango.

The Malawian has done his bit in acing his role, scoring four goals in 17 games and helping mould and nurture youngsters. While some of those youngsters have lived up to expectations, others have clearly needed time to adapt.

So, with the team still unbalanced, the club is said to be considering luring former attacker Sanele Barns back from Stellenbosch. Barns had an incredible spell at the club, helping the team avoid relegation during the play-offs a few seasons ago.

With the script having changed as the team is eager to emulate their top-eight finish from last season, Barns might fit in like a glove and prove his worth – which could very well market him to top suitors, both locally and abroad.

However, all eyes in Richards Bay on Friday will be on Manqoba, who has to live up to his name and conquer his first game after six successive league defeats. Failure to do that would all but make his departure from the club imminent.