Manqoba Mngqithi: Golden Arrows want to chase trophies and not just survival

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi has made it clear that his ambitions for the Durban club go far beyond mid-table respectability, insisting he is building a team capable of challenging for trophies.

The KwaZulu-Natal side climbed into the top eight of the Betway Premiership for the first time this season after a statement week that included a famous win over defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns and a 3-0 triumph against Orbit College at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday.

“I said it at the start that I’m building a team to compete for every trophy and not a team that makes the top eight or fights relegation. We are on the right track, but we mustn’t get carried away,” Mngqithi said.

“Everyone looks at the teams that are built with budgets as favourites for trophies, but I have always believed you have to have an eye for details and be obsessed with the job at hand, and that reflects in game moments.”

Those words reflected both ambition and caution, as Mngqithi looks to balance the growing expectations around his team with the realities of a long season.

While many view Arrows as outsiders in the Premiership race, the coach is convinced that meticulous planning and hard work can close the gap on bigger-spending rivals. That belief has already been reflected on the pitch.

Against Orbit, goals from Sede Dion, Siyanda Ndlovu, and Jerome Karelse highlighted the attacking variety within the squad and gave the hosts a comfortable victory.

Just days earlier, Arrows stunned Sundowns with a display full of discipline and resilience. The six points collected in quick succession lifted them into the top half of the table and underlined their growing momentum.

For Mngqithi, it is not just about the results but also the progress his players are showing in their physical and tactical development.

“When I look at the metrics of my players, I’m excited because we’re matching those of top international players. They’re working very hard, and we have so much potential,” he said.

That potential has become central to Arrows’ resurgence. The coach has spoken repeatedly about raising standards, and the data suggests his players are responding by hitting levels that compare with some of the best.

The challenge now will be to sustain that intensity as the season wears on.

Mngqithi is determined to ensure that Arrows are not simply a team punching above their weight for a few weeks but a genuine competitor across all fronts. While he has urged patience, his ambitions signal a team aiming higher than at any point in recent seasons.

Back-to-back wins against two very different opponents have given Arrows a springboard. They are not just in the top eight — they are in the conversation as potential dark horses. If they continue in this vein, Mngqithi’s vision of building a team capable of chasing silverware could yet materialise.