Mngqithi Optimistic About Arrows’ Progress After Setback

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi has expressed that he feels pleased with the growth of his team after their Betway Premiership 2-1 loss to Polokwane City at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday.

This marks the third loss out of six games for Arrows since the start of the season. Additionally, Arrows currently sit in position 10 with seven points.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach expressed that the team is getting close to reaching the standard that he wants it to be.

“I think we are very close, we are very close,” said Mngqithi.

“I think this game could have given a lot of confidence to the team because even in the game against Kaizer Chiefs, I think they played fairly well. They were unfortunate to lose that match because I think they created better chances, and they came into this match first half clean, maybe three or four goals.

“We must also commend their goalkeeper, I think he also did well in some instances because some of the shots we cannot blame the shot, but the goalkeeper dealt with it quite well.”

Mngqithi continued: “But I’m very pleased with the growth that I see in the group. It’s just a few aspects that are worrying me that we must really try to kill as quickly as possible, because if we don’t have tactical discipline in some situations, we end up creating problems for the whole team.”

Mngqithi further praised his players despite the loss, highlighting that if they hadn’t received the red card to Xolani Ngcobo, they would have had better opportunities in the game.

“We were very dominant in the first half and we created better opportunities to score, but we only took one,” Mngqithi stated.

“Second half, we also came in, and we were not under that much pressure because even the counter that led to the red card, I think we could have dealt with the situation better before it even arrived, where the goalkeeper had to try to get himself in a space that was compromising for us.

“But I think the boys played very well for the better part of the game, and the biggest twist was that red card. When we received a red card, we had to dig very deep. I think I would have taken them scoring than us losing a player because I think if we stayed 11 vs 11, we’d still have had the better chance in the game.”

Abafana Bes’thende will now move their focus to their next clash against the log leaders, Sekhukhune United, who remain unbeaten in the league, at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.