The domestic coaching carousel has taken a stunning turn. In a move that has caught the South African football fraternity completely off guard, Golden Arrows have reportedly parted ways with head coach Manqoba Mngqithi—despite the veteran tactician steering the club to an impressive top-eight finish in the Betway Premiership last season.
According to high-level reports from iDiski Times insider Sinethemba Sithole, Mngqithi’s departure was finalized earlier this week. The exit marks a complete and ruthless cleaning of the slate at Abafana Bes’thende as the management executes a massive technical team overhaul ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
The Great Mayfair Cleanout: Full Technical Staff Exits
Mngqithi isn’t the only casualty of this sudden structural shake-up. Arrows have completely dismantled their senior technical spine, waving goodbye to a host of recognizable former players turned coaches.
ABAFANA BES’THENDE DEPARTURE LIST
Head Coach: Manqoba Mngqithi
Assistant Coach: Kagiso Dikgacoi
Assistant Coach: Musa Bilankulu
Goalkeeper Coach: Marcus Mashilo
The Durban-based outfit is now under massive pressure to secure a new commander-in-chief before pre-season training officially kicks off. The club recently opened negotiations with former TS Galaxy mentor Adnan Beganovic, but those high-stakes talks reportedly collapsed without an agreement.
Mission Accomplished: Mngqithi’s Stellar Legacy in His Third Stint
Mngqithi’s departure comes under highly ironic circumstances, considering he completely fulfilled the mandate handed to him by club hierarchy.
After leaving Mamelodi Sundowns to return to Arrows late in the 2024/25 season, he inherited a squad drowning in a relegation dogfight. He not only stabilized the ship and secured top-flight survival, but he also engineered a highly competitive 2025/26 campaign.
- The Blueprint: Guided Arrows to 6th place in the Betway Premiership.
- The Reward: Accumulated 41 points to lock in the club’s first top-eight finish since the 2020/21 season.
- The Stat Sheet: Managed 46 matches across this stint, securing 17 wins, 11 draws, and 18 defeats—headlined by a famous, tactical 1-0 masterclass victory over his former employers, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Ultimately, despite restoring pride to the green and gold half of Durban, Mngqithi leaves upon the expiration of his contract as management opts for a fresh footballing philosophy.
What’s Next? Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu Circles Buzzing
A coach of Mngqithi’s championship-winning pedigree will not remain on the market for long. Rumor mills across the PSL are already spinning out of control linking him to two massive vacancies:
- The Usuthu Reunion: A highly anticipated return to AmaZulu FC to spearhead their ambitious local project.
- The Naturena Project: A high-profile technical or advisory role at Kaizer Chiefs, where management is actively looking for seasoned tactical brains to support their rebuilding phase.
