Golden Arrows FC: Coach Mandla Ncikazi, Stadium, Fixtures and the 2026/27 Season
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Golden Arrows started 2026/27 with a famous cup run, knocking Kaizer Chiefs out of the MTN8 and beating Mamelodi Sundowns away, but they have won only one of their first eight league games. This guide covers the new coach, results, coming fixtures, the stadium and the club’s history.
Golden Arrows at a Glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Lamontville Golden Arrows |
| Nickname | Abafana Bes’thende |
| City | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Founded | 1943 in Lamontville, restarted in 1996 |
| Home ground | King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi (about 10,000 seats) |
| Head coach | Mandla Ncikazi (since 22 October 2026) |
| Owners | The Madlala family |
| League | PSL Premiership |
| Biggest trophy | MTN8, 2009 |
| 2025/26 finish | 6th, 41 points |
New Coach Mandla Ncikazi
Golden Arrows and Pitso Dladla agreed to part ways on Thursday, 22 October 2026, EWN reported. Dladla had been appointed on 24 June 2026 after Manqoba Mngqithi left at the end of the 2025/26 season. He went out after a run of five games without a win, the last a 1-0 home defeat to newly promoted Milford FC.
The club named Mandla Ncikazi as his replacement on the same day. Orlando Pirates, where Ncikazi had been an assistant coach since 2021, confirmed his departure earlier that day. It is a return home: Ncikazi has worked at Arrows before as head of development, assistant coach and head coach, and in 2020/21 he led the team to fourth place in the league, their best finish in the PSL era.
Ncikazi watched from the stands on 24 October 2026 as Arrows beat Chippa United 4-0 in the Carling Knockout. He told FARPost the team would be “better than what we were yesterday.”
Golden Arrows 2026/27 Results So Far
| Date | Match | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 1 Aug 2026 | Golden Arrows v Chippa United | League | Drew 0-0 |
| Sun 9 Aug 2026 | Kaizer Chiefs v Golden Arrows, FNB Stadium | MTN8 quarter-final | Won 1-0 |
| Wed 12 Aug 2026 | Durban City v Golden Arrows, Chatsworth Stadium | League | Drew 0-0 |
| Sun 16 Aug 2026 | TS Galaxy v Golden Arrows | League | Drew 0-0 |
| Sun 23 Aug 2026 | Mamelodi Sundowns v Golden Arrows | MTN8 semi-final, 1st leg | Won 1-0 |
| Wed 26 Aug 2026 | Golden Arrows v Stellenbosch FC | League | Won 1-0 |
| Sun 30 Aug 2026 | Golden Arrows v Mamelodi Sundowns | MTN8 semi-final, 2nd leg | Lost 3-2 (out on away goals, 3-3 on aggregate) |
| Sun 6 Sep 2026 | Golden Arrows v Mamelodi Sundowns | League | Lost 2-1 |
| Sun 13 Sep 2026 | Siwelele v Golden Arrows | League | Drew 1-1 |
| Sun 20 Sep 2026 | Golden Arrows v Kaizer Chiefs, Mbombela Stadium | League | Drew 0-0 |
| Sat 17 Oct 2026 | Golden Arrows v Milford FC | League | Lost 1-0 |
| Sat 24 Oct 2026 | Golden Arrows v Chippa United | Carling Knockout, last 16 | Won 4-0 |
The MTN8 run
Khulekani Shezi scored in the 53rd minute to knock Kaizer Chiefs out of the MTN8 at FNB Stadium on 9 August 2026. Two weeks later Sede Junior Dion scored the only goal as Arrows won the first leg of the semi-final away to Mamelodi Sundowns.
The second leg at King Zwelithini Stadium on 30 August 2026 was a thriller. Dion and Philani Khumalo scored for Arrows, but Sundowns won 3-2. The tie finished 3-3 on aggregate, and Sundowns went through on away goals and later won the trophy.
The league so far
Arrows have kept things tight at the back, with five draws and only four goals conceded in eight league games, but they have scored only three. Dion’s header off the bench beat Stellenbosch 1-0 on 26 August 2026 for their only league win so far.
| PSL Premiership after 17 October 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Position | 8th of 16 |
| Played | 8 |
| Won, drawn, lost | 1, 5, 2 |
| Goals for and against | 3 and 4 |
| Points | 8 |
Golden Arrows Fixtures: Next Games
These dates and kick-off times are from the club’s fixture list on psl.co.za in late October 2026 (SA time).
| Date | Match | Competition | Venue and kick-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 31 Oct 2026 | AmaZulu v Golden Arrows (eThekwini Derby) | League | Princess Magogo Stadium, 18:00 |
| 6 to 8 Nov 2026 | Mamelodi Sundowns v Golden Arrows | Carling Knockout, quarter-final | Day and kick-off to be confirmed |
| Sat 28 Nov 2026 | Orlando Pirates v Golden Arrows | League | Orlando Amstel Arena, 18:00 |
| Sat 5 Dec 2026 | Golden Arrows v Kruger United | League | King Zwelithini Stadium, 15:30 |
| Wed 16 Dec 2026 | Polokwane City v Golden Arrows | League | Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, 18:00 |
| Sat 19 Dec 2026 | Sekhukhune United v Golden Arrows | League | Peter Mokaba Stadium, 15:30 |
A home league game against Marumo Gallants has been postponed, and the PSL has not given a new date yet.
The quarter-final against Sundowns is a third meeting with Masandawana in 2026/27 after the MTN8 semi-final and the league game in September. The full cup draw is on our Carling Knockout 2026 page.
The PSL often moves games for TV and for clubs playing in Africa, so check psl.co.za close to match day before you travel.
The eThekwini Derby
League games between Golden Arrows and AmaZulu, two Durban clubs with long histories, are known as the eThekwini Derby. On 31 October 2026 Arrows travel to Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu to face an AmaZulu side that were third in the league after eight games. Read about their rivals in our AmaZulu FC guide.
Players to Know
| Player | What he did in 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Edward Maova (goalkeeper) | Kept Durban City out in the 0-0 draw at Chatsworth in August 2026 |
| Sede Junior Dion | Scored against Sundowns in both MTN8 semi-final legs, the league winner against Stellenbosch and a goal in the 4-0 cup win over Chippa |
| Khulekani Shezi | Scored the goal that knocked Kaizer Chiefs out of the MTN8 |
| Philani Khumalo | Scored in injury time in the MTN8 second leg against Sundowns |
Right-back Keenan Phillips left for AmaZulu before the season.
Home Ground: King Zwelithini Stadium
Arrows play most of their home games at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, south of Durban’s city centre, which holds about 10,000 people. The PSL lists it as King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium. The club has also played “home” games at other grounds when needed: the league game against Kaizer Chiefs on 20 September 2026 was played at Mbombela Stadium.
History and Trophies
The club was started in 1943 in the streets of Lamontville, a township in Durban. Arrows played in the National Professional Soccer League in the 1970s but were relegated in 1976 and thrown out of the league in 1980.
In 1996 the Madlala family bought the second-division franchise of Ntokozo FC and renamed it Lamontville Golden Arrows. The club won promotion to the top league in 2000.
| Trophy or result | Year |
|---|---|
| MTN8 winners (6-0 against Ajax Cape Town in the final) | 2009 |
| National First Division winners | 2014/15 |
| First Division Coastal Stream winners | 1999/2000 |
| Best PSL finish: 4th, under Mandla Ncikazi | 2020/21 |
| 6th in the PSL Premiership, 41 points | 2025/26 |
The 2009 MTN8 final was played at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, and that cup is still the club’s biggest trophy.
Golden Arrows Questions
Who is the Golden Arrows coach?
Mandla Ncikazi. The club brought him back as head coach on 22 October 2026, after parting ways with Pitso Dladla. Ncikazi had been an assistant coach at Orlando Pirates.
Where do Golden Arrows play their home games?
At King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, Durban. A few home games are moved to other stadiums, such as the Kaizer Chiefs game at Mbombela Stadium in September 2026.
When is the next Golden Arrows game?
The eThekwini Derby away to AmaZulu on Saturday, 31 October 2026, at 18:00 at Princess Magogo Stadium. Then comes the Carling Knockout quarter-final away to Mamelodi Sundowns on the weekend of 6 to 8 November 2026.
Where are Golden Arrows on the PSL log?
After eight league games, on 17 October 2026, Golden Arrows were eighth with 8 points from one win, five draws and two defeats.
What trophies have Golden Arrows won?
Their biggest trophy is the 2009 MTN8, won 6-0 against Ajax Cape Town in the final. They also won the National First Division in 2014/15.
What does Abafana Bes’thende mean?
It is the club’s nickname, usually translated into English as “the Backheel Boys”.
More: PSL 2026/27 season guide, AmaZulu FC, Mamelodi Sundowns and Carling Knockout 2026.
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