Dladla encouraged by Golden Arrows progress after replacing Mngqithi

Golden Arrows head coach Pitso Dladla says the club is moving in the right direction since he replaced Manqoba Mngqithi, with the team’s established footballing blueprint helping to make the transition smoother.

Dladla has made an encouraging start in charge of Abafana Bes’thende, guiding them into the MTN8 semi-finals before they were eliminated by Mamelodi Sundowns.

Golden Arrows lost 3-2 to Sundowns in the second leg of the semi-final. The result ended a run of six successive clean sheets and marked the first time Arrows had conceded three goals since Dladla took charge.

The Durban club have also collected six points from their opening four league matches.

Dladla believes those results reflect progress from the point at which the coaching staff arrived. He said the team is continuing to develop, while the club’s existing blueprint has given the new coaches a clear framework to follow.

That structure also helps new members of the coaching staff understand the style of football expected at Golden Arrows. Dladla feels it is particularly useful because it is aligned with the type of players already at the club.

“Us as coaches, we need to improve the team every time and I believe that we’re doing that,” said Dladla.

“But then, another thing that’s helping us for the team and individuals to improve is that Golden Arrows has a blueprint.

“When you arrive here, there’s a clear blueprint that tells you what kind of the game you can play with the type of players the club brings.

“So, there’s no type of football that we can play except the one we’re playing. I think the culture of Golden Arrows helps as a new coach for you to know what to do.”

The MTN8 campaign provided Dladla with an early opportunity to measure his side against strong opposition. Arrows advanced to the last four but could not complete the job against Sundowns after the Pretoria-based side won the second leg 3-2.

The defensive record before that match had been one of the most positive aspects of Dladla’s early tenure, with Arrows recording six consecutive shutouts. The three goals conceded in the semi-final represented a notable change from that run.

The club’s league return of six points from four fixtures provides another indication of the team’s progress as Dladla continues to shape the side after taking over from Mngqithi.

A separate report has also examined why Fabisch has not yet made his Golden Arrows debut, while Dladla has addressed confusion surrounding the away-goal rule.

The iDiski Times Digital Newspaper is completely free. Readers can download it using the button provided or complete the form to have it sent to them every week.