Lamontville Golden Arrows will be playing Absa Premiership football next season after an outstanding campaign in the National First Division with former Bafana Bafana striker Shaun Bartlett at the helm. Here are five reasons Arrows won automatic promotion:

A SOLID START TO THE SEASON

A solid start sets you up for a good finish, Bartlett usually says. Arrows started the season with a 12-match unbeaten run and eight straight clean sheets, establishing an early lead at the top of the standings.

GETTING RID OF THE DEADWOOD

After getting relegated, Arrows needed a fresh start. A number of players left, allowing the club to go out and sign new talent. With players such as Zukile Mkhize, Nkanyiso Cele and Matome Mathiane this season, Arrows have terrorised opponents, scoring 44 goals. These are players to look out for in future.

KEEPING BARTLETT

It would have been easy for Arrows to go out and get a Vladislav Heric, Mlungisi Ngubane or Ian Palmer to bring them back to the PSL. But management made the brave decision to keep Bartlett in charge after getting relegated. Bartlett may be an inexperienced coach, but he was hungry to prove any doubters wrong. He took on the challenge and delivered.

FIGHTING SPIRIT

Arrows have come from a goal down in their last four matches, showing a character of champions. There's usually a lot of pressure towards the end of the season for clubs at the summit, but Arrows did not succumb to it, grinding out the results they needed to stay at the top.

JANUARY SIGNINGS

Mabhuti Khenyeza apparently always has balls and cones in his boot to do some extra training. Arrows could not have signed a better player in January to push them to promotion. He works extremely hard and scores goals. Khenyeza has scored seven goals since he joined in January, but credit should also go to midfielder Andile Fikizolo, who has been pulling the strings in midfield after joining from SuperSport United during the January transfer window.