Lamontville Golden Arrows resume their long and difficult battle to survive the chop as they prepare for the visit of University of Pretoria at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saterday.
They hardly had time to savour the Nedbank Cup win over Polokwane City at the weekend before the reality of the Premiership relegation fight this week set in.
Abafana Bes'thende are at the bottom of the log, three points behind Free State Stars in the relegation play-off position and a further point from complete safety.
Interim co-coach Bheka Phakathi was confident he and Shaun Bartlett had it in them to rescue the team from the drop. The club has changed coaches twice this season - parting ways with Manqoba Mngqithi and Mark Harrison before former strikers Phakathi and Bartlett took charge.
"We work well together even though we are still fresh in terms of coaching experience," said the former Arrows and Orlando Pirates marksman. "The boys respect us. Our chances of survival rely heavily on the players. We can give them strategies, but if they do not respond to our methods then we won't be able to achieve results.
"The players are willing to fight and they've got their discipline back. Shaun and I have the belief in our ability as well as in the players, that we will be able to move ourselves up the table."
Theformofstriker Bonginkosi Ntuli, the promising 22-year-old who extended his stay at the club by two more years, is key to Arrows staying afloat. They have struggled when he has battled for goals.
That they managed to cling onto him when the vultures were out for his signature could be the telling factor in their fight to stay in the top flight. He netted in the 1-0 win over City at the weekend and in the 2-1 defeat against Stars at Goble Park in their last league match.
"Ntuli is a crucial member of our squad and to the future of this club," said Phakathi.
"But we've tried to ease the pressure on him by getting the ZambianstrikerFestus Mbewe."
No respite for arrows
Lamontville Golden Arrows resume their long and difficult battle to survive the chop as they prepare for the visit of University of Pretoria at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saterday.
They hardly had time to savour the Nedbank Cup win over Polokwane City at the weekend before the reality of the Premiership relegation fight this week set in.
Abafana Bes'thende are at the bottom of the log, three points behind Free State Stars in the relegation play-off position and a further point from complete safety.
Interim co-coach Bheka Phakathi was confident he and Shaun Bartlett had it in them to rescue the team from the drop. The club has changed coaches twice this season - parting ways with Manqoba Mngqithi and Mark Harrison before former strikers Phakathi and Bartlett took charge.
"We work well together even though we are still fresh in terms of coaching experience," said the former Arrows and Orlando Pirates marksman. "The boys respect us. Our chances of survival rely heavily on the players. We can give them strategies, but if they do not respond to our methods then we won't be able to achieve results.
"The players are willing to fight and they've got their discipline back. Shaun and I have the belief in our ability as well as in the players, that we will be able to move ourselves up the table."
Theformofstriker Bonginkosi Ntuli, the promising 22-year-old who extended his stay at the club by two more years, is key to Arrows staying afloat. They have struggled when he has battled for goals.
That they managed to cling onto him when the vultures were out for his signature could be the telling factor in their fight to stay in the top flight. He netted in the 1-0 win over City at the weekend and in the 2-1 defeat against Stars at Goble Park in their last league match.
"Ntuli is a crucial member of our squad and to the future of this club," said Phakathi.
"But we've tried to ease the pressure on him by getting the ZambianstrikerFestus Mbewe."
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