Arrows coach warns on cup aspirations

Lamontville Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi was at the helm when the club won their only piece of silverware in 2009 but is cautious about whether they could go on and take this season’s Carling Knockout.

With the likes of Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns already eliminated, the chances are increased for an upset success in this season’s edition, with Arrows having home advantage for Sunday’s quarterfinal tie against TS Galaxy in Umlazi.

But the ever-cautious Mngqithi said: “I really don’t want to get ahead of myself. I think we must just take each game as it comes and see what we can do.”

Last season, Arrows were eliminated in both the first rounds of the Carling Knockout and the Nedbank Cup.

“Remember where we come from last season, our struggles. We can't suddenly become a team that deserves to be crowned in a competition where the teams that are in the last eight are all the teams that have done quite well. So, ours is to just focus on each game, and see what we can achieve out of it.

“But the truth is, we would love to win a trophy, after so many years. If God can be on our side, we will appreciate it,” the Arrows boss added.

Under Mngqithi, in the first of the three stints he has had as coach of Arrows, the club won their only silverware by beating Ajax Cape Town 6-0 in the 2009 MTN8 final at Orlando Stadium. It is the biggest margin of victory in a South African cup final.