At the centre of Arrows’ success

Nkanyiso Mngwengwe (Golden Arrows)

GOLDEN Arrows lost many key players at the end of last season when they were relegated to the National First Division, but a number of unknown players, as well as a few seasoned campaigners including Thabang Rooi and Mabhuti Khenyeza, have helped Arrows into promotion contention as the season-end closes in. One of the standout lesserknown players is Nkanyiso Mngwengwe – the 26-year-old central defender from Cato Ridge is one of the rough diamonds from the amateur ranks spotted by former Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi before the beginning of last season. Mngwengwe stepped up from SAB Regional League side Mngeni City Movers, and in his debut NFD season has stamped his authority in Arrows’s defence. Mngwengwe’s 20 starts and two substitute appearances in all competitions – during which Arrows have conceded just 12 goals – has prompted interest from top tier teams including AmaZulu and SuperSport United. “Trust shown in me by coach Shaun [Bartlett] this season is what has fired me to double my efforts to make an impact in the team’s campaign this season,” Mngwengwe says. “Despite interest from other PSL sides following our last season’s relegation, I preferred to stick by the team that gave me a break at the professional level.” His loyalty may well be rewarded too – the KZN side are on the verge of achieving automatic promotion to the Premiership, and made the quarter-final stages of the Nedbank Cup before losing 1-0 to SuperSport United. “After losing a number of our key players no one gave us a chance to make such an impact in the NFD, let alone reach the quarter-finals of the Cup,” Mngwengwe says. “But good support from the team’s management and technical staff, and hard work and commitment from the players has been the key to us doing well. Our main target is promotion – if we achieve that I will be a happy man at the end of the season!”