Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi cut a reflective but proud figure after his side’s Carling Knockout Cup semi-final defeat to Marumo Gallants, insisting his players have already exceeded expectations this season.
Arrows were beaten on penalties at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday after a high scoring draw, bringing their impressive cup run to an end. But despite the heartbreak, Mngqithi said his players had gone further than even he imagined when the campaign began.
“The truth is, I can’t be too hard on these boys because when we started the season, if I had told them we’d play the semi-final of this cup, they would’ve thought we are dreaming,” he said.
“So, for them to be where they are is already very positive because I did not anticipate that they’d be where they are now. I had targeted 15 games because that’s when I thought they’d have gelled, so I think they deserve credit for the strides they’ve made.”
It was a campaign that had seen Abafana Bes’thende blend youth and experience with encouraging results, showing glimpses of the high-tempo attacking football long associated with Mngqithi’s teams.
However, against a disciplined Gallants side, their dominance did not translate into goals. Mngqithi was candid in his assessment of the semi-final, admitting that his side fell into Gallants’ tactical trap.
“I don’t think I have ever seen a team create so many chances in 15 minutes, but at the end of the day, they came with a strategy,” he said.
“They knew (Washington) Arubi is very strong on penalties. They came with a strategy to try and mitigate the pain by making sure they don’t concede.”
The experienced coach did not shy away from criticising Gallants’ conservative approach, arguing that while it earned them passage to the final, it was not a sustainable way to play.
“I think that will backfire one day because I don’t think they applied themselves, and the summary of it is that they are in the final,” Mngqithi remarked.
“I am not impressed with their football, but they are in the final.”
Arrows’ fluid and attacking style has been widely praised this season, with Mngqithi restoring confidence and direction since taking charge earlier in the campaign. But the semi-final defeat was a reminder of football’s unpredictable nature — where style doesn’t always triumph over strategy.
He closed with a line that summed up both his pride and disappointment: “Impressed with my football, and not in the final. That’s football for you.”
For Mngqithi, there was clear frustration in defeat — but also a recognition that Arrows are on the right track. Their Carling Knockout Cup exit may sting, yet the signs of progress under his leadership remain undeniable.
