Manqoba Mngqithi calls on fans to unite behind KZN top flight teams

Golden Arrows, Richards Bay, and the newly promoted Durban City represent the province in the Betway Premiership. 

Mnqithi wants KZN to become a fortress where visiting teams find it difficult to leave with maximum points.

"Our performance against Siwelele, I think was influenced largely by the presence of their fans because the fans give you energy, the fans drive the team. You will see this better with North African teams, when they are playing at home, it's a completely different game than when they are playing away because at home they have a responsibility to please supporters, they have a responsibility to run more than they normally run, away from home,” Mnqithi said. 

“So a football match without spectators will never really lead to anything. I would like to edge our people that they are must be together with us when we are trying to build this thing and not wait for this thing to look nice so that they want to be part of it and grow with it because if they can grow with us, I can tell you this team will be even stronger with supporters because I've got a very big bunch of very talented boys that I think can make KZN an interesting place to be for many people but we need supporters to come in numbers. 

“I'm not only edging supporters to come and support Golden Arrows but to come and support our KZN teams."

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Despite a few key injuries, Abafana Bes’thende bounced back from their season-opening defeat to Siwelele with a 1-0 victory over Richards Bay FC in the first KwaZulu-Natal derby of the campaign.

Mngqithi says he is not rushing into the transfer market and is confident his current squad can compete strongly this season. 

While he admits adding one or two players would be ideal, his focus is on building on the team’s existing strengths.

"I think Sulumane [Nduduzo Sibiya] when he is fully fit, he will be very important to us but unfortunately only joined preseason I think in the fourth week because he was carrying a knee injury. Then we have Ndwandwe [Velemseni] that is still out, who is a very important player for the team,” the coach added. 

“You have [Siphesihle] Msomi who's out, who's also another important player for the team and you also have some important players on the outside. I think Matlaba [Thabo] is only coming back now and we are hoping he's gonna be ready for the next match. 

“Lukhele [Thokozani] is also a seasoned player that we think can also add value. Of course it will be nice to add one or two more players but I'm not rushing into that, I must make sure that I build on what I have and not rush because we'll end up signing, like previously there are some players that you'll even ask yourself, how did they arrive here."