Golden Arrows FC coach Manqoba Mngqithi has singled out three PSL teams for praise while criticising the rest for “negative play.” The Arrows coach addressed the media after the 1-0 defeat to AmaZulu FC at King Zwelithini Stadium.
Despite suffering a third consecutive league defeat, Mngqithi remained optimistic. He trusts his expansive style of football, believing it would eventually produce the desired results.
Mngqithi, in his final post-match interview before the lengthy AFCON break, offered a brief assessment of the state of PSL football in 2025.
MNGQITHI BELIEVES PIRATES IS PROGRESSIVE
The Arrows coach initially praised the Betway Premiership’s top two teams. While expressing disappointment with others, he highlighted Pirates as the standout whitehorse, leading the way in promoting a progressive football outlook.
Mngqithi said: “I am a little bit worried about how we approach football matches in the PSL, and I am not going to mention names. But I am worried that we have a Pirates team that is really trying to be progressive and trying to do things and look at football in a much broader perspective.”
The former Mamelodi Sundowns mentor also shared his thoughts on his former club. “Everybody has ruled Sundowns out for the season, but personally, I am still feeling that they are going to get their mojo very soon. They have recruited a very good team. Technically, I think they are even better in between the lines this year.”
The veteran coach moved further down the Betway Premiership table, recognising another team that has caught his eye. Mngqithi pointed out that TS Galaxy was one of the few teams to have demonstrated a positive approach to football.
TS Galaxy duo Puso Dithejane and Seluleko Mahlambi are among the league’s most promising prospects for this season. The 21-year-olds have combined for nine goals and eight assists in 12 appearances for Dithejane and 13 for Mahlambi.
Mngqithi commended Galaxy’s utilisation of their young players to promote progressive football, with successful outcomes. “When you look further down, you have a TS Galaxy team that is progressive and is really trying to come up. Exciting because they also have a lot of youngsters that are really asking questions even in the national team,” he asserted.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE BETWAY PREMIERSHIP TEAMS?
Having identified the best performers, the five-time league champion then offered a broader critique of the PSL. Mngqithi expressed concern about teams adopting a cautious approach, preferring to sit back and defend rather than take the initiative and create opportunities.
“But I look at the broader PSL, and I see a negativity that is growing where we approach games hoping for teams to make mistakes, without initiative,” asserted Mngqithi.
He added: “When you check the XGs of most teams in the PSL, you get worried because teams are not creating enough. They are reactive and not proactive.”
The KZN-born mentor also criticised a particular club he chose not to name. He stated he foresaw their downfall while everyone else was praising their unsustainable style of play.
“There is one team that I said [at the] beginning of the season when everybody was talking very highly about that team. I said, I don’t think this football will sustain itself. Sometimes it’s too obvious for everybody to see that if you deal with one, two, three and four, you will do better,” Mngqithi concluded.
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