Golden Arrows look to carry cup form into league battle against Gallants

Golden Arrows will look to continue their solid cup form when they return to Betway Premiership duty with a tricky home fixture against Marumo Gallants at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Abafana Bes’thende booked their place in the semifinals of the Carling Knockout Cup last weekend with a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory over TS Galaxy, and coach Manqoba Mngqithi will hope that confidence carries into the league.

It has been a stop-start campaign for Arrows, who have shown flashes of brilliance in attack but struggled for consistency. 

The Umlazi-based side currently sit in midtable and will know that a win at home could reignite their push toward the top half of the standings.

Arrows’ defensive organisation and sharp transitions were key to their cup win, with Oumar Comara and Ayabulela Maxwele both getting on the scoresheet. 

The challenge now will be to maintain that same level of intensity against a Gallants team known for their physicality and resilience.

Mngqithi’s men have been difficult to beat at home, but lapses in concentration have cost them points late in matches. 

The coaching staff will expect greater focus and efficiency in front of goal, particularly from attackers like Siyanda Ndlovu and Sede Dion, who have been central to the team’s attacking rhythm this season.

For Marumo Gallants, the encounter offers a chance to respond positively after a disappointing run of results. The Limpopo side has endured a tough start to life back in the top flight, battling to find rhythm under new management. 

However, their performances have shown promise, with several narrow defeats suggesting they are not far off from turning things around.

Gallants’ biggest test will come in managing Arrows’ pace on the flanks and preventing them from dominating the wide areas. Their compact defensive structure and ability to hit on the counter will be crucial if they hope to frustrate the hosts and steal something from the contest.

With both sides eager to gain momentum — Arrows to build on their cup success and Gallants to climb out of the lower half — the encounter promises to be closely contested.

A victory for Arrows could see them edge closer to the top six, while Gallants will view it as an opportunity to halt their slide and restore belief heading into a congested November schedule.

Kickoff at the King Zwelithini Stadium is set for 3pm, with both teams needing a strong performance to shape the direction of their league campaigns.