Richards Bay co-coach Ronnie Gabriel says it was crucial for his side to secure all three points against TS Galaxy this past weekend as they build confidence ahead of their clash with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Sanele Barns scored the only goal of the match as the Natal Rich Boys defeated TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium, boosting their bid to finish in the top eight for a second consecutive season.
That result, however, marked the end of Adnan Beganovic’s tenure as Galaxy head coach, with the club confirming his dismissal on Thursday.
While Richards Bay’s coaches, players and management remain focused on their own ambitions, the timing is significant as they prepare to host Sundowns at the Umhlathuze Sports Complex on Sunday.
Sundowns are locked in a tightly contested title race with Orlando Pirates in this season’s Betway Premiership. Unlike Richards Bay, Miguel Cardoso’s side were held to a 1–1 draw by Stellenbosch at Loftus Stadium on Wednesday.
They needed a win to return to the top of the table but fell short, and now sit second with 57 points from 24 matches—one point behind Pirates, albeit with a game in hand.
“We spoke about getting a positive result here leading up to that game, and playing with confidence,” said Gabriel.
“This match gave us an opportunity because the opposition didn’t press us high. It allowed us to progress from the build-up phase into consolidation and then into the finishing phase.
“We tried to vary our approach and play in different blocks, and it worked on several occasions. However, they also created a few chances on the counter.
“At the end of the day, it was about the result. We came here to get three points.
“You saw towards the end of the game we brought on Thabani Zuke and Tlakusani Mthethwa to help consolidate the lead and ensure we went home with all three points.”
Sunday’s encounter will be the third meeting between the two sides this season, with Sundowns having won both previous fixtures—the MTN8 quarter-final and the reverse league match.
The match is expected to be played in front of a sold-out crowd.
