Golden Arrows co-coach Musa Bilankulu revealed that his team had anticipated the challenges posed by Kaizer Chiefs, particularly their reliance on full-backs for offensive contributions.

Bilankulu recognized that Chiefs players like Mfundo Vilakazi, Mdu Shabalala, and Wandile Duba tend to cut inside rather than deliver crosses, which would inevitably lead to increased involvement from their full-backs.

Furthermore, Bilankulu anticipated difficulties for Chiefs defenders Njabulo Blom and Bradley Cross (signed from Arrows earlier in the season) in marking Arrows’ wingers, Siyanda Mthanti and Angelo van Rooi.

Arrows successfully neutralized these perceived weaknesses, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory over Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday. This marked Arrows’ first win at the 2010 FIFA World Cup venue against their Soweto rivals.

The winning goal came courtesy of Gladwin Shitolo, who capitalized on a rebound from Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma.

This victory marked the first win for co-coaches Bilankulu and Kagiso Dikgacoi since taking over from Mabhuti Khenyeza last month.

“When they played four at the back, it means they will allow the full-backs to climb up,” said Bilankulu tactically after the game. 

“Because initially they played with Mfundo Vilakazi or Wandile Duba wide and Shabalala wide, and those players can’t give you crosses. It means the full backs will climb up and now it gives our wingers a chance in an offensive transition – from defence to attack. 

“It means Bradley Cross cannot deal with Siyanda Mthanti in one-v-one. On the other side, it means Njabul Blom cannot deal with Angelo van Rooi in one-v-one. 

“But when they played with three at the back, still they got those spaces they left behind. We had to make a choice and allow to say ‘Okay, they will overload us in the first half, but when we get a chance to go on transition, they must also feel the pain.’  

“And you giving them those questions and they have to change the formation because out of position you have to adapt to the opponents whether you have your system or not. But in position, you impose your system and the opponent has to adapt. 
 

“So, we saw that they will overload the midfield – with Shabalala, Vilakazi by coming short. But they don’t want to come short, they are inviting you to short but they want the space behind.  

“We knew that if we go with the high press, we were mindful that there is a space behind so we have to defend high.  

“If they beat the press, we have to react to cover the space behind. I knew very well that Cross was not going to deal well with Mthanti, I knew that Blom cannot deal with van Rooi. 

“Those were the weaknesses that we have identified as well as in their overloading the midfield, that’s where they will be short.”  

In response to Arrows’ tactical approach, Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi made substitutions at halftime. Njabulo Blom was replaced by Reeve Frosler, and Tebogo Potsane (playing on the left) was substituted for Ranga Chivaviro, in an attempt to improve their performance. However, these changes did not yield the desired result.

The victory propelled Arrows to fifth place in the Betway Premiership table with 18 points from 12 matches. Notably, Arrows had collected 20 points at the same stage of the previous season before embarking on a six-match losing streak.