Dramatic exit won't derail Arrows, says Bilankulu
Golden Arrows co-coach Musa Bilankulu insists he expects his side to show character for the rest of the season despite suffering a blow in the Nedbank Cup.
Abafana Besthende were eliminated by Chippa United in the last 32 round of the Ke Yona competition at the Mpumalanga Stadium on Saturday.
In what will be remembered as one of the most memorable matches of the round, three goals were scored in the final 20 minutes with Arrows Brandon Theron scoring in both nets in a space of two minutes.
FULL TIME
— Lamontville Golden Arrows FC (@goldenarrowsfc1) January 25, 2025
We bow out of the Cup competition. A high pressure 7 minutes of play determined the outcome this afternoon.
Lamontville Golden Arrows (Theron 74') 1-2 (Kwayimba 71', Theron 77'(OG) Chippa United
LGA 1️⃣-2️⃣ CUTD #SthendeWay #10betGoldenArrows #NedbankCup pic.twitter.com/LuO0DnwiAA
The Chilli Boys, who celebrated with their new assistant coach Mabhuti Khenyeza booked their place in the round of 16 for the 12th time in the club’s history.
Bilankulu, who had expressed a great desire to place a second major trophy in the club’s cabinet, although disappointed, expressed that he didn’t expect his side to collapse moving forward. Arrows will face Mamelodi Sundowns, Cape Town City and then Orlando Pirates in the next three fixtures.
“I told them we have to go through to the next round but sometimes you want something so badly, you end up losing yourself,” he told the media after the game.
“It’s unfortunate that we lost ten games but it’s a great lesson for us and we’ll go to Sundowns on the 2nd with our heads up high and I still believe we’ll compete in the Betway Premiership in the games that are left.”
⏪ 🅸🅲🆈🅼🅸 ⏪
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) January 26, 2025
Chippa United registered a 2⃣➖1⃣ win over Golden Arrows to advance to the #NedbankCup last 16!#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/o5byz67gf8
On the side of the Chill Boys, it was pure relief as they secured their first win under head coach Thabo September as well as assistant Khenyeza. Following the departure of Kwanele Koop at the turn of the year, Chippa have been in search of stability and following a draw in the league against Marumo Gallants, they have managed to win although in dramatic fashion.
September expressed great repose after the match and revealed how this win would contribute to the continuity they’re trying to achieve within his group and his own personal growth.
“It’s not just a confidence booster for me but confidence booster for the players as well that their coach can lead,” he said.
“For me as well, there’s a psychological boost that I can do this as well. I did it with DDC (DStv Diski Challenge) and now in the top league, trying to instill my own coaching so when you win, you reaffirm that belief.”
September was a part of a SuperSport United team that won the Nedbank Cup in the 2014/15 season and could form part of a select group that have won it both as a player and a coach.
“I hadn’t thought about it that far as yet but when you play in a competition like this you want to win it, that’s a nice wish or plan but it’s all about taking it a game at a time, it was like that as a player, it’s like that as a coach as well,” he concluded.