Arrows Part Ways with Five Players in Squad Restructuring

Golden Arrows have initiated a squad overhaul in preparation for the upcoming season, releasing five players, with additional departures expected.

This decision follows a difficult previous season in which the club narrowly avoided relegation.

The players who have been released by Arrows include Kagiso Malinga, Sifiso Mlungwana, Nkosi Gumede, Ryan Moon, and Puleng Tlolane. Under the management of coach Manqoba Mngqithi, who took over in March after leaving Mamelodi Sundowns last December, Arrows finished the last season in 12th place, gathering 31 points from 28 matches.

As per sources from Sportswire, it is likely that more players will depart before the start of pre-season training, as the club strives to enhance its squad.

Player Profiles and Departures

Moon, formerly of Maritzburg United, is rumored to be in talks with rival team AmaZulu. The 28-year-old forward has also had spells at Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch before joining Arrows ahead of the 2022/23 season. He leaves with a record of 10 goals and five assists from 59 appearances across all competitions.

Sifiso Mlungwana, who came through the Arrows academy and was a former high school rugby player, made his way to the senior team in 2019. The goalkeeper played 84 matches in all competitions for the club.

Gumede has been a long-standing member of Arrows, having been with the club since before the first tenure of current assistant coach Musa Bilankulu. The 31-year-old has been in the senior team since 2011 and is the club’s longest-serving player, making 132 appearances without recording a clean sheet during his time as a goalkeeper.

Striker Malinga, who joined Arrows mid-way through the 2023/24 season from Moroka Swallows, departs after scoring just one goal in 21 matches.

Tlolane, now 30, initially came to Arrows on loan from Orlando Pirates before securing a permanent transfer in 2023. He leaves the club after scoring once in 17 appearances.