GOLDEN Arrows head coach Clinton Larsen has praised his assistant, Mandla Ncikazi, after receiving the Absa Premiership Coach of the Month award.
Yesterday Larsen became the first coach this season to walk away with the Coach of the Month award for both August and September.
“It’s the hard work paying off,” he said. “Credit must go to the people I work with behind the scenes. I have a strong assistant in Mandla and the development coaches I work with – Papi Zothwane, Vusumuzi Vilakazi and Lindani Shezi – have also been so good. It’s a collective effort – it’s a shame only the head coach gets recognition.”
Arrows are one of only two teams still unbeaten in the Premiership so far this season. The other is Baroka FC.
Arrows have collected 13 points in the seven matches. They won three and drew the other four.
Larsen said all of this was the result of the good pre-season they had.
He said while other teams were busy signing players, he and his technical team were focusing on the players they had from last season. “It’s continuity from our side. Last season players were still finding their feet after being promoted from the NFD the season before.
“This is our second season back and the players understand each other much better.
“We worked on our defence, our biggest problem last season. That work is paying dividends.”
Kaizer Chiefs’ in-form keeper, Itumeleng Khune, was named Player of the Month for both August and September.