Canaan Mdletshe
Asiphephe Cup winners Lamontville Golden Arrows are refusing to be complacent after Sunday's feat but are working hard in preparation for the second round of the Absa Premiership.
Even after a 3-0 thrashing of Orlando Pirates in the final, the Arrows players and technical staff are not resting on their laurels.
This is not to take anything away from the cup win, because even though it might seem insignificant to some, to Abafana Bes'thende it means so much because it is their first ever trophy, and coach Manqoba Mnqithi believes his charges are well on track to claim the number one spot on the log.
"I have always believed that we played well this season, and had we not fumbled some games, we would be occupying the top spot on the log. I think we deserve to be on top. This is the best team," said Mnqithi.
The Arrows coach said he hoped that the form of their new signing, Mozambican Muricio Perquininho, would solve their scoring problems.
He described him as a quality player.
"We have always played well, but our main problem has always been scoring goals, and I hope he will do that for us.
"He has scored in every match we played since his arrival and all seems to be going well for us. I am so excited that I have identified a player that is of his calibre," said Mnqithi.
The soft-spoken mentor believes that his midfield genius, Papi Zothwane, is the best in the country.
"I have always been satisfied with Papi. In actual fact, he is the best offensive midfielder in the country and you can't compare him to any player. I know that Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira likes Papi and had he not suffered an injury, he would have been in Ghana as we speak.
"Before the national team left for Ghana, I personally spoke to Parreira and informed him that Papi had healed, but I think he did not trust my judgement, but one thing I know for sure is that he likes Papi," he said.
Arrows will play their first second-round match away against Platinum Stars in February 13
lSee Bafana Bafana match report in the later edition.
arrows stay on target
Canaan Mdletshe
Asiphephe Cup winners Lamontville Golden Arrows are refusing to be complacent after Sunday's feat but are working hard in preparation for the second round of the Absa Premiership.
Even after a 3-0 thrashing of Orlando Pirates in the final, the Arrows players and technical staff are not resting on their laurels.
This is not to take anything away from the cup win, because even though it might seem insignificant to some, to Abafana Bes'thende it means so much because it is their first ever trophy, and coach Manqoba Mnqithi believes his charges are well on track to claim the number one spot on the log.
"I have always believed that we played well this season, and had we not fumbled some games, we would be occupying the top spot on the log. I think we deserve to be on top. This is the best team," said Mnqithi.
The Arrows coach said he hoped that the form of their new signing, Mozambican Muricio Perquininho, would solve their scoring problems.
He described him as a quality player.
"We have always played well, but our main problem has always been scoring goals, and I hope he will do that for us.
"He has scored in every match we played since his arrival and all seems to be going well for us. I am so excited that I have identified a player that is of his calibre," said Mnqithi.
The soft-spoken mentor believes that his midfield genius, Papi Zothwane, is the best in the country.
"I have always been satisfied with Papi. In actual fact, he is the best offensive midfielder in the country and you can't compare him to any player. I know that Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira likes Papi and had he not suffered an injury, he would have been in Ghana as we speak.
"Before the national team left for Ghana, I personally spoke to Parreira and informed him that Papi had healed, but I think he did not trust my judgement, but one thing I know for sure is that he likes Papi," he said.
Arrows will play their first second-round match away against Platinum Stars in February 13
lSee Bafana Bafana match report in the later edition.