Dladla details on the tactical approach and defensive structure that nullified Chiefs in the MTN8

By Velile Mnyandu
10th August 2026

Something was interesting about Golden Arrows’ defensive structure in their MTN8 quarter-final 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in how they denied them the space and time inside the box at FNB Stadium yesterday.

Arrows head coach Pitso Dladla, in the post-match press conference shared details of how they neutralized Chiefs’ wingplay, where they had deployed Mfundo Vilakazi and Luke Baartman, players who were more focused on inverting and lacked pace. Dladla gives credit to the players for being effective with the game plan that was prepared and presented to them.

"The defensive duties we worked on in individuals. We said to Shezi and Cele, if you're isolated, there's Baartman on your side, Shezi, and there's Mfundo on your side, Cele. Whoever it is, you must be able to dominate your area of operation and win the 1v1s, and then cover will be provided if needed," said Dladla.

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"But if you're isolated, win the 1v1s, and I think that they did that very well. And then also, as a group, the back four, we told them that we are working as a group. One needs to provide cover and have balance; let's do that in front of them."

"In terms of defensive duties, honestly, we came here prepared, we worked on it in training, and we created a lot of scenarios we experienced here in training. It goes to the whole technical team, and another thing is when they introduced Ighadaro, we were worried because aerially, he is very good, so we closed the crosses, and we did really well with that."

On the bench, Dladla also had a new face for Abafana Besthende, former Bidvest Wits and TS Galaxy youth coach Ashley Makhanya, who was most recently the head coach at Gomora United in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. It is this kind of technical team that the former Durban City head coach says added a good dimension to their preparations.

Given how the two teams had started in the opening week of the season, with Arrows held to a goalless draw by Chippa United and Chiefs beating newly promoted Kruger United 3-1, Dladla says it made their preparations difficult, and they prioritised more hard work coming to this game.