Lamontville Golden Arrows’ Assistant Coach Mandla Ncikazi is unhappy to have allowed a top eight Absa Premiership place to have slipped away from them, ahead of their final match of the season against Bidvest Wits on Saturday.
Abafana Bes’thende are only 10th heading into round 30 and need some major miracles in order to hit their target.
The Durban side require Kaizer Chiefs and Highlands Park to both lose and also must win their game in KwaMashu handsomely. Ncikazi is not happy.
Arrows presently have 36 points from 29 games, three behind Chiefs, two less than Highlands and one fewer than Bloemfontein Celtic.
They could have made headway had they done something against Mamelodi Sundowns during a catch-up game in midweek.
However, that game ended in a 2-0 loss, with Ncikazi blaming a lack of discipline during a crucial portion of the game for the result in Tshwane.
The one thing in Arrows’ favour heading into the season finale is that Wits have little to play for at the Princess Magogo Stadium.
They cannot win the league as Sundowns are five points ahead of them, while second-placed Orlando Pirates must win their final game to have a chance at claiming the title. Ncikazi hopes the Students pitch up in holiday mode in Durban.
The match is also the first one that will be played in KwaMashu this year after the venue was stripped of hosting games towards the end of 2018 due to the poor condition of the pitch.
In the meantime, Arrows have been playing at Clermont’s Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, where they were well supported.
Ncikazi says they owe it to their fans to turn in a good showing in their final game.
A reminder that the final matches of the season all take place simultaneously this Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm. – Report by Thahir Asmal
