Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi admits they were lucky to have secured the services of Ivory Coast teenage sensation Isaac Cissé.
The Ivory Coast U23 captain looked poised for a move to Europe in the window that just passed after his contract with Société Omnisports de l’Armée expired, but Arrows moved swiftly to secure him on a three-year deal last week.
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He’s been touted as one of the brightest prospects in the West African nation and made his debut with a 20-minute cameo in the 1-0 win over Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday afternoon.
“Cisse is a very good football player, technically, I’m just very lucky to even have him at Arrows, because circumstances maybe favoured me,” Mngqithi said.
“But he has some trials in Portugal, they wanted him in France badly before – his contract was then up with his team and when it finished, there was a bit of silence from those teams in Europe because maybe they were not aware.
“And I managed to get him just like that, but believe me, he’s a helluva good player, he’s the U23 captain of Ivory Coast. Tactically he still has some issues we must deal with, as we’re playing a dynamic 4-3-3 and he’s a six or an eight in a two-man midfield.
“So, we’re helping him understand our structure, I was pleased with his technical application but not too sure with his tactical orientation, but I can tell you he’s a very good footballer player, in no time – he will have respect.”
Cisse made his U23 national team debut at the age of 16 under current Elephants head coach Emerse Faé back in 2023.
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