Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has urged his players to keep up the hard work as they prepare for the visit of Chippa United to the Mpumalanga Stadium on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
Current form:
Abafana Bes'thende are back in the frame for a top-eight finish after claiming a 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs in Durban on Saturday, 29 March as they bounced back from the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Magesi before the international break.
That setback came just three days after Mngqithi's side had beaten CAF Confederation Cup hopefuls Polokwane City 1-0 and a second win in three matches has taken them within two points of the top eight in 10th position with three games in hand on Chiefs (8th).
Arrows have already faced Chippa twice this season, with both encounters ending in defeat; they went down 2-0 in the reverse fixture on 26 October before being dumped out of the Nedbank Cup at the first hurdle on January 25 following a 2-1 reverse.
The Chilli Boys are also pushing for MTN 8 football after recording back-to-back wins against Rise And Shine and AmaZulu.
The 2-0 triumph over Polokwane on March 15 arrested a three-match winless run and Thabo September's side kept the momentum going after the international break with a 2-1 success against Usuthu.
The Eastern Cape outfit are one point better off than Arrows in ninth place, although they have played one fixture more.
What was said:
Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi
"We were unfortunate even in the second half with some breaks that we got. I don't think we did enough to make sure that it ends up in a goal because we were getting behind them.
"How many cut-backs we were trying on the right without succeeding, [Velemseni] Ndwandwe beats the opponent because he was tired, Knox [Mutizwa] is in the cut-back position with no midfielder.
"But unfortunately we have to accept that these boys have worked very hard and we must give a lot credit to them because I think they are willing and enthusiastic.
"They are forever trying and I fought with them at halftime because they were starting this habit of sitting back and I said I want the second half for us to be on top of their faces. I think they did that very well."
🚨UPCOMING GAME🚨
— Lamontville Golden Arrows FC (@goldenarrowsfc1) April 2, 2025
🆚 @ChippaUnitedFC
🗓️ Sat 5 April 2025
🏟️ Mpumalanga stadium (Hammarsdale)
🕰️ 15:00
📺 SABC Sport & SS Variety 4 #10betgoldenarrows #sthendeway #greenandgold pic.twitter.com/ODRKNEcY2D
Players to watch:
Golden Arrows - Knox Mutizwa proved his worth to Mngqithi by providing an assist and the winner against Amakhosi. The club's all-time leading goalscorer took his tally for the campaign to three with a predatory finish from close range and Mngqithi claimed afterwards that he "is a better striker than many so-called big strikers".
Chippa United - Enock Sakala will have taken confidence from his first goal for his new club in what was his full debut against AmaZulu. The 22-year-old Zambian striker had made two appearances off the bench following his free transfer from Modern FC in February, but was handed his first start last weekend and opened the scoring in the 19th minute, although he was substituted at halftime.
Head-to-Head: (Last Five Betway Premiership Meetings)
Matches - 5
Arrows wins - 1
Chippa wins - 2
Draws - 2