Golden Arrows reserve coach reveals secret to team’s success

Johannesburg - Golden Arrows reserve coach Vusumuzi “Kanu” Vilakazi has attributed his charges’ league dominance to unity.

“When we prepare the MultiChoice Diski Challenge team, we train with the first team,” said Vilakazi.

“Unlike other teams who train their reserve sides and first team separately, we train together and it is making things better for the club".

Not focusing on winning

The former Arrows striker said the reserve team trains for their games as though they are about to play a Premier Soccer League match.

Abafana Bes’thende were at the top of the log with 25 points, six clear of second-placed Bloemfontein Celtic, before this weekend’s round of matches.

The Durban side last week beat Celtic 3-2 at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein in a match that was considered to be a league decider.

With 10 games played and only five left to go, Kanu said they were not focusing on winning the championship, but on developing players for the senior squad.

“But we would love to win the championship because it’s the cherry on top when you are doing well,” he said.

With 26 goals netted, Arrows lead the goal tally in the league.

Vilakazi said they had been working on their finishing and ability to create goal-scoring opportunities.

On Sunday they will lock horns with Platinum Stars, a team that is firmly placed at the bottom of the log.

Although the game looks like an easy win on paper, Vilakazi thinks otherwise.

Chasing pack

“This will be the most difficult game. When we won the league [in 2016], we only lost to Stars as they are a difficult team to play".

Other clubs that could stand in Arrows’ way of clinching the league title are SuperSport United, Ajax Cape Town, Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits.

Vilakazi believes it is only a matter of time before they win the league.

“If we can win two games, we will make it difficult for the chasing pack".

On the other hand, Arrows’ first team have found the going tough and were placed 10th on the Absa Premiership table after recording only four wins in 17 matches.