Richards Bay co-coach Papi Zothwane praised his side’s efforts but called for sharper execution after their 1-0 win against Kaizer Chiefs.
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Richards Bay FC co-coach Papi Zothwane applauded his side’s determination following their 1-0 Betway Premiership victory over Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday, although he admitted there were aspects of the performance that left him concerned.
The Natal Rich Boys ended a four-match winless run and claimed their second win over the Glamour Boys in three meetings, compounding Chiefs’ struggles in what is becoming a difficult second half of the season.
A second-half strike from Thulani Gumede secured three valuable points for the KwaZulu-Natal outfit, lifting them to within one point of eighth-placed TS Galaxy, with a game in hand.
Despite the positive result, Zothwane was candid in his assessment of the overall display.
“We are happy with the three points but not entirely happy with the performance, especially in the first half,” Zothwane told the media after the match.
“We gave the ball away too easily and that made it difficult to create scoring opportunities.
“At halftime we spoke about using the ball better, and in the second half the players responded well and followed the instructions. We looked much better.”
Richards Bay created several opportunities in a match they largely controlled but failed to convert many of them — an ongoing concern highlighted by their modest return of 15 goals in 19 matches this season.
Zothwane acknowledged the issue but praised his young squad for their resilience, particularly at their home ground at the Umhlathuze Sports Complex, which is increasingly becoming a stronghold.
“Every game we create chances and don’t take them. We are working with young players, but this is a tough league and if you don’t take your chances, you get punished,” he said.
“We could have scored more, but we appreciate the goal and the three points. Since moving here, we have only lost two matches.”
He also emphasised the importance of delivering for the local supporters.
“Whether it’s Chiefs or Orlando Pirates, the people of uMhlathuze deserve matches like this. We must use our home advantage and credit to the team for bringing Chiefs here.”
Zothwane dismissed suggestions that his side benefited from Chiefs’ recent slump or any lingering effects from their 3-0 Soweto derby defeat, which has now extended their losing run to four matches.
“You treat every game the same. Chiefs had lost four in a row and we didn’t want to be the team they bounced back against, especially at home.
“Our last win was in December against AmaZulu, so we needed this victory and owed it to ourselves.” he concluded.
* Obakeng Meletse is Independent Media’s multi-sport writer. For fresh video content, follow our YouTube channel The Clutch