Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has made a strong case for one of his key players to receive a call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad, citing compelling reasons based on their recent performances.
Mngqithi was addressing the media after Arrows’ 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs in a Betway Premiership tie at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Nduduzo Sibiya and Knox Mutizwa were enough to earn Abafana Bes’thende maximum points at home. Chiefs’ goal came from the club’s captain, Yusuf Maart, who had earlier missed a penalty.
Despite the victory against the Soweto giants, Arrows remain 10th on the log standings with 27 points after 20 games.
WHO’S THE PLAYER MANQOBA MNGQITHI BELIEVES HE’S A NATIONAL TEAM MATERIAL
The player that Mngqithi backs for Bafana call-up is Velemseni Ndwandwe, a central midfielder for the KZN outfit.
The 29-year-old has been with Arrows since December 2016, having paved his way to the first team with impressive displays from the club’s reserve side.
While Ndwandwe’s goal tally of one in 17 appearances might raise eyebrows, Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi insists the player possesses the quality to earn a Bafana Bafana call-up and thrive at any PSL club.
Ndwandwe recently reached a milestone of 150 games for the club when Arrows faced Mamelodi Sundowns on 5 March 2025. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
“I rate him very highly. The way I rate him, I think he could easily play for any team in this country. It’s not something that I have only seen now that I’m with Golden Arrows,” said Mngqithi.
“If you could speak with him, he knows how much I always wanted him around. Unfortunately, at times, things don’t go the way you want.
“I believe he’s the national team [Bafana Bafana] material. I will try the best I can do just to speak and look at him because honestly, I think he’s in a class of his own. He’s tall, defensively good, very powerful, and very intelligent.”
Mngqithi continued: “In fact, he’s an exceptionally gifted player, and I have used him to take care of Lucas [Ribeiro] when we played against Sundowns, and he dealt with him very well. I also used him on the side of Oswin [Appollis] when we played against Polokwane City FC, and he dealt with him very well. I believe he’s a very good footballer, and I rate him very high.”
RELATED STORY: Mngqithi reveals what ‘opened his eyes’ about referee Akhona Makalima
