Mngqithi Unfazed By FIFA Transfer Ban At Arrows

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi says the club will not be affected by the FIFA transfer ban in the January transfer window, as they already have a squad large enough to manage the second half of the season.

Because of the squad’s size, the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach added that they had no intention of signing new players in the upcoming window regardless of the ban.

Arrows were handed a three-window transfer ban by FIFA for failing to pay former star striker Knox Mutizwa.
The ban prevents Abafana Bes’thende from registering any new players — locally or internationally — until they settle the outstanding amount owed to the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.

When asked whether the club had resolved the issue, Mngqithi did not give a direct answer.

“We have signed too many players,” Mngqithi said.
“I did not want to add any players in the next window because I’m focused on preparing this group — it’s a big group.
“I’m excited by what I’ve seen.”

Sportswire sources have informed this website that Arrows have still not paid Mutizwa, who left the club in March last season with a year remaining on his contract.

This is despite him scoring an impressive 63 goals in 231 matches, cementing his legendary status at the KwaZulu-Natal side.

Mutizwa expressed his disappointment with how he left the club, telling Sportswire that he did not come to South Africa to fight, as things are not easy back home in Zimbabwe.

This is the second time in recent years that Arrows have been hit with a FIFA ban. The same happened during Ernst Middendorp’s departure, during his tenure from March to September 2011.

At the time, Middendorp left without receiving a settlement despite still having a valid contract, and he eventually won the case through the FIFA Football Tribunal.