Lamontville Golden Arrows F.C.

Golden Arrows
Full name	Lamontville Golden Arrows ; Football Club
Nickname(s)	Abafana Bes'thende ; (The Backheel Boys)
Founded	1943; 81 years ago, bought Ntokozo FC franchise in 1996
Ground	Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, Durban
Capacity	6,500
Chairman	Mato Madlala
Coach	Mabhuti Khanyeza
League	Betway Premiership
2023–24	9th
Home colours	Away colours

Lamontville Golden Arrows F.C. are a South African soccer club based in Durban that plays in the Premiership.

History

It was founded in 1943 in the streets of Lamontville, a township in Durban. The club played in the defunct National Professional Soccer League in the 1970s until they were relegated in 1976. They played in the Second Division thereafter until 1980 when they were embroiled in a soccer scandal and thrown out of the National Professional Soccer League.

The team was formed again in 1996 when the Madlala family bought the Second Division franchise of Ntokozo FC and changed its name to Lamontville Golden Arrows.

In 2000 they won promotion to the Premiership by winning the National First Division Coastal Stream.

Arrows claimed their first piece of major silverware when they won the 2009 MTN 8, routing Ajax Cape Town 6–0 in the final played at Orlando Stadium.

Honours

League

1999–2000 – National First Division Coastal Stream Champions (2nd tier)^[1]
2014–15 – National First Division (2nd tier)^[2]

Cups

MTN 8: 2009

Pre-season tournaments

2011 – KZN Premier's Cup

Former club crest

Club records

Most starts: Thanduyise Khuboni 212 (2006–2014) (previous record, Siyabonga Sangweni 173 (2005–2011)
Most goals: Knox Mtizwa (2018-present) 55
Most capped player: Joseph Musonda, 108
Most starts in a season: Thanduyise Khuboni, 35 (2011/12)
Most goals in a season: Richard Henyekane 22 (2008/09)
Record victory: 6–0 vs Platinum Stars (18/3/09, Premiership)
Record defeat: 1-7 vs Orlando Pirates FC (06/04/2024, Premiership)

League positions

National First Division (Coastal)

1997–98 – 5th
1998–99 – 3rd
1999–2000 – 1st (promoted)

South African Premiership

2000–01 – 9th
2001–02 – 13th
2002–03 – 5th
2003–04 – 9th
2004–05 – 9th
2005–06 – 6th
2006–07 – 12th
2007–08 – 9th
2008–09 – 5th
2009–10 – 12th
2010–11 – 11th
2011–12 – 13th
2012–13 – 13th
2013–14 – 16th (relegated)

National First Division

2014–15 – 1st (promoted)

South African Premiership

2015–16 – 9th
2016–17 – 8th
2017–18 – 8th
2018–19 – 10th
2019–20 – 12th
2020–21 – 4th
2021–22 – 9th
2022–23 – 9th
2023–24 – 9th

First team squad

As of 17 August 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	DF	UGA	Ismail Watenga (on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns)
2	DF	RSA	Sazi Gumbi
3	MF	RSA	Olwethu Ncube
5	DF	RSA	Gladwin Shitolo
6	FW	RSA	Tebogo Tlolane
7	MF	RSA	Kagiso Malinga
9	FW	RSA	Ryan Moon
11	FW	RSA	Nduduzo Sibiya
12	MF	RSA	Velemseni Ndwandwe
13	DF	ZAM	John Mwengani
14	MF	RSA	Angelo Van Rooi
15	DF	RSA	Thabani Zuke (Captain)
16	DF	RSA	Thokozani Lukhele
18	FW	ZIM	Knox Mutizwa
19	FW	RSA	Sibusiso Sibeko
20	FW	ZAM	Moyela Libamba
22	DF	RSA	Sicelo Hlatshwayo
23	MF	RSA	Lungelo Dube


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
24	MF	RSA	Nqobeko Dlamini
27	DF	RSA	Ntsikelelo Nxadi
30	DF	RSA	Sbonelo Cele
31	DF	RSA	Nduduzo Mhlongo
32	GK	RSA	Nkosingiphile Gumede
34	GK	NAM	Edward Maova
35	MF	RSA	Themba Mantshiyane
36	GK	RSA	Sifiso Mlungwana
38	FW	RSA	Siyanda Mthanti
39	DF	RSA	Bradley Cross
40	FW	RSA	Lungelo Nguse
41	FW	RSA	Nhlanhla Zwane
42	DF	RSA	Brandon Theron
43	FW	RSA	Lwanda Mbanjwa
44	FW	RSA	Bongani Cole
50	FW	RSA	Menzi Masuku

Foreigners

In the South African Premiership, only five non-South African nationals can be registered. Foreign players who have acquired permanent residency can be registered as locals. Namibians born before 1990 can be registered as South Africans.