Khenyeza gives Arrows direction
LAMONTVILLE Golden Arrows coach Shaun Bartlett has good reason to smile, even though his side dropped two points at home on Wednesday against Vasco da Gama in the National First Division.
Striker Mabhuti Khenyeza is back from suspension and no one, Bartlett believes, can inspire the Arrows players more than the veteran forward. It is his work rate, and not always his goals, that Bartlett appreciates the most.
Tomorrow league leaders Arrows face KwaZulu-Natal rivals Royal Eagles at Chatsworth Stadium (3pm kickoff). It ’ s a chance for Khenyeza to terrorise Eagles and add to his tally of four league goals since joining the club in January.
“Mabhuti ’ s experience will come in handy. He is a person that we need in pressure situations,” Bartlett said. “His work rate always inspires the players and he is a leader on the pitch. You need players to stay calm and not panic at this stage of the season.”
He added: “It was very disappointing to get a draw against Vasco, but we did not deserve to win when you look at our first half performance. We did not show desire. Hopefully, players will turn up against Royal Eagles. It ’ s a massive game and there will be a lot of emotion because it ’ s a derby.”
On Sunday Jomo Cosmos, the highest-scoring side in the league with 43 goals, host a Maluti FET College side that has conceded a staggering 60 goals in 26 matches. Ezenkosi, four points behind Arrows, should take advantage of Maluti ’ s porous defending to better their goal difference. Maluti have already been relegated. NFD fixtures (all starting at 3pm) TODAY: Athlone: Milano United v Highlands Park
TOMORROW: Thohoyandou: Black Leopards v Santos, Chatsworth: Arrows v Eagles, NNK: FC Cape Town v Cape Town All Stars; Goble Park: African Warriors v Thanda Royal Zulu
SUNDAY: Vaal University of Technology: Jomo Cosmos v Maluti; Puma Rugby Stadium: Witbank Spurs v Baroka