Steve Komphela wants the new generation of Lamontville Golden Arrows players and fans to start creating memories of their own, saying success in the Telkom Knockout is the ideal stepping-stone for those dreams.
Arrows are bracing themselves for a competition quarter-final against SuperSport United on Saturday evening in Tshwane.
If omens are to be believed then 2019 could well be their year. The Durban side seem to have good fortune where the number nine is involved, having first won promotion in 1999-2000 and then winning their only trophy, the MTN8, in 2009. Coach Komphela is hopeful.
Arrows overcame Polokwane City 1-0 in extra time of their round of 16 opener, while SuperSport were 3-2 penalty shoot-out winners over defending champions Baroka FC.
Both sides have also been solid in the Absa Premiership season this term, Abafana Bes’thende are presently seventh, with Matsatsantsa sitting two places above them in fifth. Komphela believes the Tshwane club are flourishing under Zimbabwean coach Kaitano Tembo.
Although Arrows are doing fairly well this season, they still have problems at both ends of the pitch.
They have only managed to score nine times in their first nine league games, the second fewest amongst the top eight sides, while their defence is the second leakiest in the division with 13 goals shipped.
But goals are what Komphela wants and he says that he has been drumming that into his players and also constantly getting his forwards to work on their finishing.
Komphela has also been reflecting on the way some of their new players have adapted to life at the Lamontville club.
Michael Gumede, Edmore Sibanda, Ntsako Makhubela and Lindokuhle Mtshali have all been given a fair amount of opportunities since joining in the winter and Komphela says he has been highly impressed by what they have brought to the table. – Report by Thahir Asmal
