Dladla wants Arrows to raise the bar as Sundowns test awaits

The Arrows coach was speaking exclusively to SABC Sport ahead of their MTN8 semi-final first leg against Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Dladla is pleased with the chances his side have been creating, but wants them to become more clinical in front of goal and turn those opportunities into points.

"That's the biggest challenge that you are faced with: to create scoring opportunities and also convert them into goals. It is something that, as a technical team, we are working day in and day out in terms of helping the players. The amount of chances that we create should give us at least one or two goals in each game," said Dladla.

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Dladla says Arrows will not abandon their identity when they come up against Sundowns, with the aim of taking a positive result back to KwaZulu-Natal for next weekend’s second leg. The two sides will meet again at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on August 30.

One of Arrows’ notable departures during the off-season was winger Siyanda Ndlovu, who joined Sundowns after an impressive campaign with Abafana Bes’thende. The 22-year-old recorded four goals and eight assists in 31 appearances last season, and Dladla says the club has prepared for player movement by ensuring there is competition for places across the squad.

Arrows finished sixth in the Betway Premiership last season to secure their place in this year’s MTN8, before eliminating Kaizer Chiefs 1-nil at FNB Stadium in the quarterfinals. They have also opened the new league campaign unbeaten, drawing all three of their matches against Chippa United, Durban City and TS Galaxy.

Dladla says the challenge now is to build on last season’s top-eight finish and ensure the team continues to make progress.