Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi says he needs to be honest and admit Mamelodi Sundowns are still a very strong team that will get back to their best very soon.
Mngqithi led Arrows to a 1-0 win over Sundowns, which ended their unbeaten start to the 2025/26 season, which leaves them two points behind leaders Sekhukhune United, who have a game in hand.
Junior Dion’s first half header proved the difference in difficult conditions at the King Zwelithini Stadium, but the former Sundowns coach, who served at the club for over a decade stated a sluggish start was to be expected after their FIFA Club World Cup and lack of pre-season.
“Beating Sundowns, I wouldn’t be looking at it as my former team – it would feel bad if I’d want to gloat about beating Sundowns, because this team has done so much for me and my family, I would always be grateful to this team,” he said.
“I will never have feelings of thinking I am better or what, because I know this is a very powerful team – I hear people saying this season will be something different, in my opinion, I think this team is still very strong, it’s just a matter of time…
“They never had a proper pre-season, and we’re still capitalising on that, in the first 10 matches you can expect them not be in in sync and also the Club World Cup took it’s toll, the adaptation from the Club World Cup alone, will take close to a month for the players to really adapt really well.
“I don’t think they are at where they are supposed to be but they have done very well in recruitment, very good players, the young boy Bennet was with us in the DDC, he’s a very good footballer and the ones from Portugal are also very good.
“I see a team that lost today, but does not define they are not good enough because, in my opinion, class, is permanent, there’s moments that with that class, you can always be punished here and there, but in my opinion, Sundowns will still be very strong this season, I’m an honest person.”
Arrows moved up to 11th place in the league with 10 points in eight games, 10 points off leaders Sekhukhune.