Manqoba Mngqithi laments 'elementary' mistakes as Orlando Pirates ham…

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi said Tuesday night’s thrashing at the hands of Orlando Pirates was only the second time this season his side had been " dominated". Despite being hammered 5-0 at Orlando Stadium, Mngqithi insisted his team’s performance was not a true reflection of their quality, but rather the result of “elementary” mistakes, particularly in the opening stages of the match. Pirates wasted no time asserting control, racing into a commanding first-half lead with quick, incisive attacks that exposed gaps in Arrows’ defensive structure. The hosts capitalised on poor organisation and lapses in concentration, with early goals setting the tone for what would become a one-sided contest. By halftime, the damage was already severe, and Pirates continued to dictate the tempo in the second half, punishing Arrows whenever space opened up. Mngqithi was frank in his assessment, pointing to moments his team had specifically prepared for but failed to manage on the pitch. youtube Orlando Pirates v Golden Arrows | Match in 5 Minutes | Betway Premiership Orlando Pirates v Golden Arrows | Match in 5 Minutes | Betway Premiership listing: SuperSport “We made some elementary mistakes and we got punished. The unfortunate part is that the first three goals were situations that we had analysed. We knew they can pose a threat with players hanging behind, especially in those areas," Mngqithi said. The Arrows coach also highlighted his side’s failure to deal with set-pieces, particularly lateral free kicks, where defensive discipline was crucial. Despite the heavy defeat, Mngqithi refused to criticise his players harshly, maintaining that such results can happen against top opposition. In the second half though, Arrows had created more goal scoring opportunities but lacked composure in the final third. Mngqithi pointed to missed chances in the first half and a lack of calm decision-making in promising positions as another key shortcoming. Still, he chose to take lessons from the defeat, particularly for his relatively young squad “We spoke about guarding the box in those situations, but we did not take care of the business,” he added. We’re not a bad team, we can’t be bad overnight. But when you don’t do what is expected in your defensive organisation, you give opponents time and space to dictate the game — and you will always be punished," said Mngqithi. “I can’t fault the boys too much. It’s a good lesson. In some games, you will be dominated — and this is only the second time this season where I felt the opponent was really on top of us.” The result leaves Golden Arrows needing a response as they look to stabilise their position in the league standings, while Orlando Pirates strengthen their push near the top of the table following a commanding performance.

Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has reacted to his side’s 5-0 loss to Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday evening.

The drubbing comes after the Buccaneers also scored six past TS Galaxy before the international break.

Mngqithi admitted that his side were just not good enough on the night.

“It was just a bad day at the office today, from the beginning we didn’t look the way how I expected, we tried to keep possession, but too indecisive in the final third,” he said after the match.

Mngqithi admits defeat after Pirates match

The former Mamelodi Sundowns admitted his players were not hungry enough on the night and deserved to lose by a big margin.

“We had chances with Maxwele and Sibiya – early on but he decided to pass – Pirates ran stronger than us and were powerful off the ball, they worked very hard and credit must be given to their technical team. They made our life difficult and exposed our frailties,” he said.

Mngqithi also claimed that his side could have had a penalty against Pirates.

“We weren’t hungry enough, they showed they deserved it but it’s and that it was five, because on the fourth goal there was a foul on Mabaso on the touchline. I also think there was a strong penalty shout on Cisse, but we also fluffed chances with Gasa and Sithole.

“It was few and far between [our chances] but the team who deserved to win, won the game.”

Can Pirates win the league?

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 8, 2026 – Kenya Pipeline women’s volleyball team coach Geoffrey Omondi has earmarked the Africa Club Championships in Egypt as the bare minimum for the national champions.

Omondi says the oil merchants are hungry for a seventh continental crown as are other Kenyan representatives.

“Speaking for Kenya Pipeline, we are determined to win the trophy. I know the other teams are determined as well. Whoever among us win the trophy, either way it will be back home. As Kenya Pipeline, we believe and hope we are the ones who will bring the trophy back home,” the tactician said.

Pipeline will be hoisting the Kenyan flag high, alongside local rivals Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at the competition, set to serve off on April 11 (Saturday) to April 24.

Kenyan teams have historically enjoyed success on the continental stage.

Despite their six titles, Pipeline’s last continental glory came in 2005, with KCB the last Kenyan side to lift the crown in 2022.

The oil merchants finished third in the last edition of the competition in Abuja, Nigeria in April last year.

It was the third straight edition in which Pipeline finished on the podium, after securing silver in 2024 and 2023.

The post Kenya Pipeline outline major target at Africa Volleyball Club Championships appeared first on Capital Sports.

Relebohile Mofokeng could be entering the final stretch of his Orlando Pirates career, with just seven matches potentially remaining in Buccaneers colours.

The 21-year-old playmaker has enjoyed a sensational rise since making his debut in 2023, contributing over 30 goals for the Soweto giants.

During that time, he has lifted six trophies and established himself as one of the standout performers in the Premier Soccer League.

After a slow start to the current campaign, Mofokeng found top form following the 2025 AFCON tournament. He has since been in scintillating touch, scoring nine goals in 2026 and adding three assists.

Mofokeng is Pirates best player by far

His performances have not gone unnoticed, earning him the Betway Premiership Player of the Month award for both February and March. He is now widely considered a leading contender for the PSL Player of the Season accolade.

The youngster headed into the FIFA international break on a high, netting his first senior hat-trick before following it up with a brace against Golden Arrows.

With only seven fixtures left this season for Pirates, speculation around his (Mofokeng) future continues to intensify. Mofokeng has been linked with moves abroad for the past two years, but no deal materialised.

However, after what is shaping up to be his best season yet, a move overseas now appears increasingly likely, especially with the FIFA World Cup on the horizon, which could further boost his value and visibility in Europe.

Speaking about his preferred role, Mofokeng highlighted where he feels most effective on the pitch.

“I think the style we play here at Pirates suits me as a number 10,” he said after Bucs 5-0 win over Golden Arrows.

“I’m not really someone who likes running a lot. I prefer operating in tight spaces.

“So I think the number 10 position is best for me. I can also play on the wing, but my strongest position is as a 10.”

Orlando Pirates supporters might not know it yet but this last seven games could very well be Mofokeng’s farewell tour as he is destined with a big move.

Which league should Rele move to?