Arrows boss Dladla credits technical team after defensive win over Sundowns

Golden Arrows coach Dladla has praised the influence of his technical team after Abafana Bes’thende recorded a 1-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final first leg.

The Durban side produced a disciplined defensive performance at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday to take an important advantage into the return fixture.

Dladla singled out assistant coach Ashley Makhanya, who joined Arrows from Gomora United earlier in the season after previously working as a Motsepe Foundation Championship coach. The Arrows manager believes Makhanya’s contribution extends beyond tactical preparation, with the former player also offering leadership and support to the squad away from the pitch.

“We know the character of Ashley Makhanya. He was a hardworking player, and I can tell you that as a coach he is also like that. He is very committed to the team, very knowledgable and he demands a lot from the players. We don’t have big players at Arrows, but we guide them and he definitely plays a father figure role.”

Arrows have made an impressive defensive start to the 2026/27 campaign, keeping five successive clean sheets in all competitions.

That sequence includes their MTN8 victories against Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns, along with three goalless draws in the Betway Premiership. Their latest shutout means they will take their defensive record and narrow lead into Sunday’s second leg against the reigning South African giants.

Goalkeeper coach Jacob Mokhasi has also been identified by Dladla as a key figure in the team’s defensive organisation. Mokhasi joined Arrows from Marumo Gallants before the campaign began, having previously held coaching roles at Marumo Gallants and SuperSport United.

His football background also includes a playing spell with Orlando Pirates, as well as time at other clubs.

Dladla says the work of the technical staff has been matched by the attitude of the players, both during matches and in training. He has focused on building a squad in which every member remains ready to make an impact, whether selected in the starting line-up or introduced from the substitutes’ bench.

“The kind of players we have are very committed to the project. We are playing against Sundowns in three consecutive weekends, so we have to take that into consideration, but we are a family and we’ll carry on working hard for each other.”

The victory over Sundowns begins a particularly demanding period for Arrows, who must manage three successive weekends involving the same opponents.

Their immediate priority is Wednesday night’s Betway Premiership meeting with Stellenbosch FC. Arrows will then return to MTN8 duty against Sundowns in the semi-final second leg on Sunday, before facing the Brazilians again in the league the following week.

With five consecutive clean sheets behind them, Dladla’s side will hope the defensive resolve praised by their coach can carry them through the challenging run of fixtures.