Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi says his side must ignore the weight of history as they prepare to face TS Galaxy in the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday at 3pm.
Abafana Bes’thende will walk into the clash with a grim record against The Rockets, having failed to win any of their last nine encounters since 2021 — a run that includes five defeats and four draws.
Yet, Mngqithi insists he is not guided by past results, choosing instead to focus on the immediate challenge in front of him.
“Sometimes I don’t know whether it’s assertiveness or arrogance, but I always want to focus on how a particular team has played against me and not necessarily the team that I’m coaching at that point in time,” Mngqithi said.
Since his return to the Lamontville-based team, Mngqithi has worked to instil belief and tactical discipline in an Arrows side that has struggled for consistency.
Sunday’s fixture offers a chance to break one of their longest-running winless streaks and reach the semi-finals of a competition that has already seen several favourites tumble.
“Because my focus is always on that opponent in that specific match — no matter where I am and regardless of what has happened in the past — because history is always turned around in moments like these,” he continued.
Mngqithi’s calm yet firm demeanour has brought a new sense of composure to Arrows, and his experience at the highest level, including his trophy-winning tenure at Mamelodi Sundowns, could prove invaluable in high-pressure cup moments.
However, he knows Galaxy — who have earned a reputation for their tenacity under Adnan Beganovic — will not be easy to break down.
“Galaxy may be a hoodoo team to Arrows, but they have never been a hoodoo team to me,” Mngqithi said confidently.
“I have to figure out how I’m going to beat them, which is not going to be easy because they are a team that refuses to die — and they run a lot.”
Galaxy have been one of the most resilient sides in cup competitions, famously upsetting Kaizer Chiefs in the 2019 Nedbank Cup final, and Mngqithi knows the importance of respecting an opponent that thrives on physical intensity and tactical flexibility.
“We just have to focus on what is in front of us and leave what might have happened in the past,” Mngqithi added.
“Because we don’t know what happened, but we can tell a story about what happens next now that we’re dealing with that directly.”
For Mngqithi, Sunday’s clash represents both a test of Arrows’ mental strength and a statement opportunity.
A win would not only end a painful hoodoo but also mark a significant step toward restoring belief among the Arrows faithful.
With home advantage and Mngqithi’s experienced hand guiding them, Arrows have the chance to flip the script — and perhaps finally write their own story against the stubborn Rockets.
