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IOL News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
No margin for error as Golden Arrows aim to edge clear of drop zone against Sekhukhune United
Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi gives out instructions to defender and captain Gladwin Shitolo at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Golden Arrows will be looking to make home advantage count when they welcome Sekhukhune United to the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu on Saturday in a decisive Premiership clash. Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm in what will be the last fixture of the season for Babina Noko, while Arrows still have to navigate an outstanding 45 minutes against SuperSport United. For Arrows, this is a chance to potentially secure their Premiership status before finishing off that tricky encounter against Matsatsantsa. The Durban-based club currently sit in 13th position with 27 points, just one clear of Cape Town City in the relegation playoff spot. A win against Sekhukhune could be enough to confirm their safety, even if City collect all three points in their clash with Stellenbosch FC in the Cape derby. To the Mighty Gold and Green Army! The moment has arrived for our last home game of the season against Sekhukhune United! Let your passion ignite Princess Magogo Stadium! Come in your numbers, bring the noise!#SthendeWay #10betGoldenArrows — Lamontville Golden Arrows FC (@goldenarrowsfc1) May 23, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The margins are fine and the pressure is real, but Arrows will know that collecting three points at home might ease their relegation concerns significantly. Under coach Manqoba Mngqithi, Arrows have taken on a more structured and possession-focused approach since his arrival earlier this year. While the philosophy has brought some stability in phases, results have been inconsistent. Their home form remains underwhelming – with just three wins from 13 matches at Princess Magogo this season, accompanied by five draws and five defeats. Goals have been hard to come by, and the defensive lapses have not helped either. Saturday's clash comes with its own level of difficulty, as Sekhukhune are among the better-performing sides this campaign. The Limpopo based outfit are sitting fourth on the log with 46 points from 27 matches, and a strong finish could see them qualify for next season's CAF Confederation Cup – especially if Stellenbosch stumble. 1 - Keletso Makgalwa has won his first Player of the Month award, and is the third player from Sekhukhune United to do so after Andy Boyeli & Linda Mntambo. Honoured. — OptaJabu (@OptaJabu) May 14, 2025 Eric Tinkler's men are unbeaten in their last five matches, a run that includes two wins and three draws. Their most recent outing was a 1-1 draw with Kaizer Chiefs, a match in which they showed both resilience and organisation. This consistency has been a key factor in their rise up the table, and they will be looking to maintain that level heading into the final week of the season. Sekhukhune also won the reverse fixture 2-0, which will give them confidence heading into the return match.
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Golden Arrows in need of a spark ahead of KZN derby clash with Richards Bay FC
Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi gives out instructions to defender and captain Gladwin Shitolo at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Golden Arrows are in desperate need of a spark to get their season back on track as they prepare to visit Richards Bay FC in the Betway Premiership KZN derby on Saturday at the King Zwelithini Stadium (3pm kick-off). Abafana Bes'thende have unexpectedly dug a huge hole for themselves. While their fate remains in their own hands, they will be ruing the missed opportunity to secure a top-eight finish — something they have failed to achieve in the past three seasons. Arrows currently sit 14th on the table, just three points ahead of 15th-placed Cape Town City, after a string of poor results has seen them collect only five points from their last eight matches. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Manqoba Mngqithi and his charges have lost four of their last five encounters, with their most concerning performance coming in a 3-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates, where they failed to replicate the promising form they had shown earlier in the season. The former Sundowns mentor will know all too well that they must strike form quickly to avoid unnecessary complications as the season draws to a close. But their task will not be made any easier by a Richards Bay side that already beat them 1-0 in the reverse fixture. The Natal Rich Boyz have not had it easy this season either, starting out under the guidance of Brandon Truter — who was eventually let go — with the threat of relegation constantly lingering over their campaign. Now, under interim coach Ronnie Gabriel, they find themselves slightly better positioned. They currently sit on 29 points, while Cape Town City (23 points) can only match that total if they win their remaining two fixtures. Gabriel's side also hold a superior goal difference over both Arrows and City, which could prove decisive if it comes down to the wire. Mathematically, Richards Bay are still under threat, but given how the season has unfolded, it would take a remarkable turn of fortune for the Cape side to overturn the goal difference in their favour. Having narrowly survived relegation last season by winning the play-offs against the University of Pretoria and Baroka FC, Richards Bay will be looking to avoid a similar fate this time around. Their recent results suggest some stability — but in a derby where pride and survival are both at stake, anything can happen. Lindokuhle Zikhali was the difference the last time the two sides met at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale, as the Natal Rich Boys walked away with a 1-0 win. On current form, they come into the clash the better placed of the two sides, having picked up six valuable points from their last five encounters. Golden Arrows, meanwhile, have it all to do. While they have shown glimpses of resilience in patches this season, their lack of consistency and defensive fragility remain their biggest undoing.
IOL News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Top-eight chasing Golden Arrows aim to end winless run against CAF hopefuls Stellenbosch
Manqoba Mngqithi Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi gives out instructions to defender and captain Gladwin Shitolo at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Golden Arrows' top-eight ambitions have taken a few knocks in recent matches, with a short winless run placing them on the back foot ahead of the visit of Stellenbosch FC. The two teams will clash at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale today at 3pm, and both clubs are eager to keep their respective targets intact. For the hosts Arrows, it's been three games since they last tasted victory, their loss against Durban rivals AmaZulu last time out making a telling blow. The Lamontville-based club now find themselves amongst relegation strugglers in 12th spot, albeit having played fewer matches. However, coach Manqoba Mngqithi's men now find themselves four points adrift of eighth-placed Chippa United, and although their target remains reachable, they would need to turn their form around. Good morning Maroons 🤟 — Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) May 2, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The club have won just two of their last 12 outings in all competitions, a form that will not suffice in the final six games to seal a top-eight place. On the side of the visitors, it has been a turbulent last seven days, having bowed out of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals and then going on to beat Chippa United at home on Tuesday. 'We are showing that we can ground out results even when we're not at our best, similar to what we did in our last home [league] game against AmaZulu. It's a massive three points for us at home and keeps us in a position we want to be in,' said head coach Steve Barker after the match. His team will need to be in that kind of mood when their return to what has become their second home in Durban if they want to strengthen their push for continental football again. Stellies not only sit three points behind Sekhukhune in third, but they are also five points behind second place Orlando Pirates, opening the avenue to either Champions League or Confederation Cup football next season. In terms of form, unsurprisingly Stellenbosch have the upper hand having lost that one game against Simba SC in their last six matches. Match Day - 1. Final preparations ahead of tomorrows game against Stellenbosh #10betgoldenarrows #greenandgold #sthendeway — Lamontville Golden Arrows FC (@goldenarrowsfc1) May 2, 2025 What will worry coach Barker, though, is his side's lack of goals in that run, having not scored more than one in those seven matches. With the injury to Ashley Cupido and the already missing Bradley Mojela, Barker will have to look at the likes of Devin Titus to bring the required spark in attack against an Arrows side with two clean sheets in 12. The head-to-head battles between these two teams have been evenly matched in recent years, with two draws, a win for Arrows and two wins for Stellenbosch in the last five outings. That solitary win for Abafana Bes'thende came this season in the Cape Winelands, as Siyanda Mthanti and Lungelo Nguse decided matters on that day. As both teams look to collect vital three points, this encounter is nicely poised for a lot of goals, a tactical battle and special moments.
