Vilakazi says psychological support can help Arrows end losing streak

By Ayanda Nyuswa

Richards Bay FC head coach Vusumuzi “Kanu” Vilakazi says his departure at Lamontville Golden Arrows is not the reason why Abafana besithende are not producing results, and believes psychological support for the players could help the KZN side to get back to form. Vilakazi was speaking on Extratime on Gagasi FM with Simtho Dladla and Mike Makaab ahead of the Natal Rich Boyz highly anticipated KZN derby clash against Royal AM in the Dstv Premiership at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday.

Vilakazi resigned as the co-coach of Arrows in September last year leaving Mabhuti Khenyeza as the sole mentor of the KZN side. Kanu’s departure came as a shock to many as Arrows enjoyed an impressive start to the 2023/24 season, winning six of their first nine league matches to go as high as second on the DSTV Premiership standings. The KZN side has managed only three wins in all competitions since the departure of Vilakazi in September and have gone on a brutal ten game losing streak, which saw them get dumped out of the Carling Knockout and the Nedbank Cup, and drop to tenth position on the log.

“One thing that is very important that I was mentioning now, the problem is in the mind,” said the former Arrows mentor.

“You lose 3 or 4 games consistently and you start doubting yourself, you don’t believe in yourself so that is the psychological aspect. I think they (Arrows) can go for a psychologist, even if it is not a psychologist who can speak to the players, in our case (Richards Bay FC) we didn’t go for a psychologist but we always invite uPastor to come but he is playing that role of being a psychologist because he would tell the players to believe in themselves. Maybe Mabhuti needs that to find someone who can encourage and motivate the players, they can definitely turn the corner, that was the very same team that was winning matches.”