Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi says the Orlando Amstel Arena is a place where inexperienced players struggle, joking there might be some higher powers that affect them.
Arrows were thumped 5-0 on Tuesday evening with Pirates running rampant, following on their 6-0 win over TS Galaxy in their previous league outing before the FIFA international break.
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They punished the visitors who had four players in the game who were making their first appearance at the stadium, three of who were in the ABC Motsepe League last season and one in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
“You’re talking about the fight that we put against Sundowns? The biggest challenge we had, even against Sundowns – I don’t think we started the game well, I think first half they dominated the game so much,” he said when asked why they capitulated in Orlando compared to the display at Loftus Versfeld.
“We only become stronger in the second half and pushed them. But here when you concede early and concede from situations that you have worked on – I know it gets in the heads of the players where they say ‘eish, we have disappointed’. And the focus is no longer where you want it to be.”
While Mngqithi acknowledged he’s excited about the potential of his squad, he says the difference between the game at Loftus and eSgodini – is that Pirates showed they wanted the win from the first minute and left Arrows with no answers.
“But you must also give credit to Pirates, they showed so much hunger, they ran [a lot], even the game we played at home in Durban, the game was 50/50 up until the latter stages of the game, but they really imposed themselves here,” he continued.
“I think our younger players, really felt the stress you can feel in this stadium, it’s not an easy stadium for younger players, I don’t know why – maybe there are some graves here somewhere, but it’s not an easy stadium for young players, I can tell you that.
“I was excited about these young players, because I’m all about their growth and development but the reality is Pirates were really strong and really wanted this game.”
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