Golden Arrows, one of three KwaZulu-Natal teams in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), first displayed their enterprising brand of soccer in the top flight three years ago.Â
At the time they were seen as just another coastal team, soon to become like African Wanderers and AmaZulu — forever flitting between the PSL and the first division. However, in their first season Arrows finished a respectable ninth in the then 18-team league and, although they faltered to 13th last time around, they are now fourth and, until recently, were in contention for the premier soccer league title.
The man responsible for Abafana Bes’thende’s evolution from pretenders to contenders is former Classic coach Khabo Zondo. The Golden Arrows coach started out in 1988 in the Smirnoff league.
His abilities were first noticed nationally when he stepped up to look after the Tembisa club. Zondo took Classic from the first division into the premiership and BP Top Eight Cup, only to watch them fall back to the first division two seasons later. He blames Classic’s relegation on the number of good players that left the club.
Zondo’s abilities have been utilised at national under-23 level, where he was an assistant coach to Mich D’Avray, and then as a national technical assessor for Bafana Bafana during the African Cup of Nations in 2000. The highlight of his non-club career so far was when Jomo Sono appointed him as his assistant for last year’s World Cup.Â
Zondo said he learned a lot from Sono as well as from his experience in Korea, but has not yet started to implement this knowledge at Arrows. This season the coach said he was looking to get his side in the top eight and that is exactly what he has done, with qualification for next season’s inaugural SAA Super Eight Cup now assured.
Arrows are fourth in the table with two games remaining and find themselves standing between Orlando Pirates and the championship this weekend, when the two teams lock horns at Kings Park stadium.Â
Arrows can either hand Pirates three points and the title or force the championship down to the last game. Zondo said Arrows will not be under any pressure as they have achieved what they set out to achieve, but that ‘we have no choice but to perform well†against Pirates as fans have high expectations of the team.
Zondo said Arrows would have loved to win the league but the lack of
experience and confidence among the players made it just a pipe dream this season. ‘We cannot go wild, we need to take things step by step,†he said.
Before the start of the season, supporters thought Arrows would be relegated to the first division but, until just a few weeks ago, they were in the hunt for the premiership. Zondo attributes their transformation to the willingness of his players to embrace a professional attitude and strong management support for the team.
His one-on-one coaching methods have been key to the club’s success as have his stepping up their training sessions and giving players incentives for winning games.
Golden Arrows have also seen star striker Mabhuti Khanyeza called up to the national team. Zondo said such call-ups make him ‘aware of what I can do; the potential I have for producing results with unknown playersâ€.
The former Classic man has also been learning more about his job by attending Fifa coaching courses.Â
‘Going to school will help me further my coaching abilities,†Zondo said. He believes that a coach with an open mind who is confident and willing to learn from his peers will make him better at his job.