Mngqithi focused on finish as Arrows teeter near drop zone

When he joined the club on March 3rd, Arrows were still chasing a Top 8 finish.

His tenure started with a draw against his former club and a win over Kaizer Chiefs. But those promising results were followed by defeats to AmaZulu, Stellenbosch, and back-to-back losses against Orlando Pirates, amongst others.

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Speaking after the goalless draw in the KZN derby versus Richards Bay, Mngqithi reflected on the road ahead and the points still up for grabs.

"With two matches to go, one of which might be a replay against SuperSport United, I'm not too worried. The only thing that I'm unhappy about is my team's performance and their inability to perform at the desired level," stated the Arrows boss. 

Mngqithi believes the turning point in their season came when the squad lost key players at a critical time, just before their mid-April clash with Marumo Gallants.

"After losing Mashiane and other key players who had real influence in our performances, our form started to dip. I must also say that I'm impressed with some of our other players, like Jiyane, the centre back, who has really stood out for me," said Mngqithi.

Arrows are now winless in their last seven league outings and hover just one point above the relegation/playoff zone.

With one game left and a fixture against SuperSport United still to be played, the team’s current points tally marks their worst season since their 2013/14 relegation, when they ended with 21 points.

Mngqithi says his players made basic errors despite a solid start at King Zwelithini Stadium.

"We created some very good creative moments in the final third, but we struggled to handle Richards Bay's counterattacks. We also made far too many elementary mistakes in the final third, which exposed us to those counters," explained the experienced tactician.

Mngqithi also outlined the key areas he’s been working on since taking charge, aiming to stabilize performances and sharpen the team’s tactical discipline.

Arrows currently sit 13th on the log with 27 points from 26 matches: 6 wins, 9 draws, and 11 losses.