Since their 2-1 win against Kaizer Chiefs on the 28th of October, Golden Arrows have failed to pick up a single point in their following 4 league matches including a cup loss to KZN rivals, AmaZulu.
Following a great start to their DSTV Premiership campaign, Abafana Be’sthende find themselves battling to find form in their most recent encounters. Having started the season off with 6 wins in 9 games, it surprises many to see the Arrows in free-fall.
With a season that isn’t short of drama, Golden Arrows seemed to be living comfortably against the ropes. The team lost the services of club legend and co-coach, Vusumuzi Vilakazi, who surprisingly left the club while the team was in good form, with rumours stating that he apparently left after refusing to field certain players under the command of the club’s hierarchy.
Following Vilakazi’s departure, the team’s form didn’t suffer as they went on to win a few more games that led to PSL journalist’s rightfully voting Khenyeza as the September/ October Coach of The Month.
By the time Khenyeza was announced as the winner of the award, the club had already suffered a bad start to the month of November, losing 3 successive KZN derbies against AmaZulu and Royal AM, with AmaZulu scoring 3 goals against them in 2 of those encounters.
Where did it all go wrong for Abafana Bes’thende?
The team has played fluid and entertaining football under Khenyeza, but always seemed prone to conceding goals with the gaps they leave at the back. Teams have managed to cancel them out and Mabhuti Khenyeza hasn’t been able to produce the answers from a tactical point of view.
Outclassed by Morgan Mammila in their most recent clash against fellow strugglers, Chippa United, further questions will be asked of Mabhuti Khenyeza’s role at the coastal club following their 2-0 loss.
In recent years since returning to the DStv Premiership, the club has been patient with previous coaches. ‘How much time will Khenyeza be granted to turn the tide at Arrows?’ will be the question on everyone’s lips as the team prepares for another big encounter against a revived Orlando Pirates that has won 4 of their last 5 encounters.