Golden Arrows coach Dladla calls for greater aggression against Sundowns

Lamontville Golden Arrows coach Pitso Dladla has urged his players to attack with greater purpose in the second leg of their 2026 MTN8 semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns, despite holding a valuable advantage from the opening match.

Abafana Besthende secured a 1-0 victory over the Brazilians at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday, with Junior Dion scoring in the first half to give Golden Arrows a narrow lead before the return fixture.

The result leaves Golden Arrows within one match of reaching the MTN8 final, but Dladla is determined that his side do not approach the second leg with a defensive mindset or allow complacency to take hold.

Instead, he wants his players to take greater initiative when the tie moves to their home ground in Umlazi.

“We will be more aggressive in our approach for the second leg at home. But I will sit together with my technical team and plan well,” Dladla said.

Golden Arrows were forced to defend for extended periods in Pretoria as Mamelodi Sundowns controlled most of the possession. However, Miguel Cardoso’s side found it difficult to turn that dominance into clear-cut chances.

Dladla’s team remained a threat when they recovered the ball, seeking to take advantage of the space left behind by Sundowns’ attacking players. Their ability to combine a disciplined defensive display with the threat of counter-attacks helped them protect their lead.

The coach now believes home advantage should allow Golden Arrows to be more positive, rather than simply concentrating on preserving their one-goal cushion.

“But we just need to be more aggressive because if we score first or get a goal at home, we will stand a better chance to emerge victorious,” he added.

A second Golden Arrows goal would place substantial pressure on Mamelodi Sundowns, who must overturn the deficit to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive. Another clean sheet would make the visitors’ task even more difficult.

Sundowns are expected to adopt a more attacking approach in Umlazi as they attempt to recover from the first-leg defeat. That could provide Golden Arrows with further opportunities on the counter, although Dladla’s side will need to remain organised against opponents possessing significant attacking quality.

The challenge for Dladla is to ensure his players show enough aggression to threaten Sundowns while retaining the discipline that helped them claim the first-leg advantage.

The semi-final remains finely balanced despite Golden Arrows’ victory. They are now 90 minutes away from completing another notable upset after eliminating Kaizer Chiefs in the quarter-finals.

A place in the MTN8 final is therefore within reach, but Dladla’s message is clear: Golden Arrows must improve their attacking intent if they are to finish the job in the second leg.