Golden Arrows extend defender Themba Mantshiyane’s contract ahead of new season

Golden Arrows have extended defender Themba Mantshiyane’s contract, securing the 30-year-old’s future at the club ahead of the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign.

The Durban-based side confirmed the deal after a busy period of change, with the club reshaping both its squad and technical team during the close season. Mantshiyane was one of several Golden Arrows players whose previous contracts expired at the end of the 2025/26 season.

His new agreement means he will remain with Abafana Bes’thende as they begin a new chapter under head coach Pitso Dladla. The defender will now look to establish himself in Dladla’s plans after spending the past five seasons with the club.

Mantshiyane joined Golden Arrows from Free State Stars in 2021 and has since made more than 100 appearances for the Durban outfit. During that time, he has scored two goals and provided two assists.

The defender’s contract extension comes as Golden Arrows continue to prepare for the new campaign following significant activity in the transfer window. The club has overseen both incoming and outgoing player movements while also putting a new coaching structure in place.

Golden Arrows moved quickly to appoint their new coaching staff before the start of the season and have been working to integrate their new signings during pre-season preparations. Mantshiyane’s retention adds continuity to a squad that has also undergone change during the close season.

The club began its Betway Premiership campaign on Saturday with a goalless draw against Chippa United at King Zwelithini Stadium. The result gave Golden Arrows a point in their opening match as the team started life under its new technical leadership.

Mantshiyane will therefore remain part of the squad as Golden Arrows continue their 2026/27 campaign. His experience of more than a century of appearances for the club provides a significant link with the team’s recent past, while his new contract gives him the opportunity to compete for a regular role under Dladla.

The extension also ensures that a player who has been with Golden Arrows since 2021 will continue into a sixth season at the club. After having his previous deal run out at the conclusion of last season, Mantshiyane has now committed his future to Abafana Bes’thende as they seek to build on their opening league result.