Sangweni: Why Arrows beat Pirates

SIYABONGA SANGWENI says there is a combination of factors that makes it easy for a team like Golden Arrows to get one over Orlando Pirates.

Sangweni, who during his football career played and captained both Arrows and Pirates, explains what prompts such a rivalry between a small club like Arrows and a big one like Pirates.

The former Bafana Bafana defender says although the two clubs enjoy a good relationship, that goes out of the window once the referee blows his whistle for kick-off.

Pirates can attest to that after losing 2-0 at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.

“What I can tell you is, once we are inside the four lines, our good relationship ends and it will only continue again after the game,” Sangweni tells KickOff.com.

“We are there to work, things become more serious. Once I’m inside those four lines I leave my problems outside and work. Even the bosses, no one wants to lose to the other, and us as players we can’t lose to Arrows, or we can’t lose to Pirates.”

Sangweni explains why Abafana Bes’thende managed to produce a top performance to topple the Buccaneers.

“You see every time you are about to play against a big team, you become more motivated. Yes, when it comes to the standard, you can’t compare Pirates players to the ones that are at Arrows. But when it comes to status we are all on the same level,” he says.

“While I was still at Arrows it irritated me to lose to the so-called big teams. It’s just the history of the club that is big.” — Kick Off.