Ncikazi slams Durban media ahead of KZN derby

Those who think AmaZulu will have it easy against provincial foes Golden Arrows will eat humble pie.

This is the fierce warning from Arrows coach Mandla Ncikazi ahead of their KwaZulu-Natal derby against Usuthu at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium tomorrow at 3pm. As much as Abafana Bes'thende have been brilliant in their own right thus far, Usuthu's 15-match unbeaten streak in the league has made many to consider them the favourites.

Ncikazi wasn't holding back, lambasting people who have already tipped AmaZulu to win. The Arrows coach also gave the media stick, especially in their Durban base, insinuating that some media practitioners there are AmaZulu supporters.

“We will give it a good fight against AmaZulu. There's media noise. Some have already given the result to AmaZulu, especially in Durban, where some in the media you'd think are employed by AmaZulu, given the amount of disrespect they give to Arrows and the hype they create around AmaZulu. We will go all out to get a win,'' said Ncikazi.

Finishing fifth in both the 2002/03 and 2008/09 seasons remains Arrows' joint highest ever league position. At the rate the Durbanites are going about their business this term, they stand a good chance to set a new record.

Ncikazi has insisted finishing in a better position than all their previous campaigns remains their main goal.

“We're still on course, we're running our own race. All the noise that's happening around [referring to those who think they can challenge for the title], we don't concentrate on that. We're focused on our team. The goal has always been to try and finish at the highest position that the club has ever achieved,” said the Arrows trainer.

“If it [achieving their goal] takes us to Africa, let it be... if it happens that it takes us to the top of the log, why not? There's a lot of football to be played. I think the assumptions and mathematics [calculations] taking place came prematurely.”