Richards Bay co-coach Papi Zothwane has warned that Kaizer Chiefs will not be allowed to bounce back at their expense when the two sides meet in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday [19:30].
Chiefs arrive in KwaZulu-Natal on the back of three consecutive defeats, the latest being a heavy 3-0 Soweto Derby loss to Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium — a match Pirates dominated from start to finish.
Amakhosi will be desperate to respond when they face the Natal Rich Boyz at a sold-out Umhlathuze Sports Complex.
Chiefs Under Pressure After Three Straight Losses
In addition to the Derby defeat, Chiefs also lost to Stellenbosch FC in the league and suffered a CAF Confederation Cup setback against Al Masry SC last week.
Zothwane expects a reaction but insists his side is equally motivated.
“We are playing against a big team that has just lost three games in a row,” said Zothwane, who was close to joining Chiefs in 2006.
“Obviously, they will want to bounce back, but they can’t bounce back at our expense. The last time we won at home was against AmaZulu FC in November, so we want to win.
“We want to make our supporters happy.”
Head-to-Head Record Between Chiefs and Richards Bay
Chiefs secured a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture at FNB Stadium in August — a match in which Thulani Gumede suffered an ankle injury following a heavy challenge from Aden McCarthy.
However, the Natal Rich Boyz claimed a famous victory over Chiefs in Durban in March last year, with Fezile Gcaba and Yanela Mbuthuma on target at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi.
Both teams head into Tuesday’s encounter winless in their last three matches, adding further intrigue to the clash.
Richards Bay Target 23 Points
Zothwane believes his team’s recent performances have built confidence within the squad.
“After a good performance against AmaZulu and Orbit College, we are very confident that we can get points from Kaizer Chiefs,” he said.
“We have analysed their weaknesses and strengths. I think we have prepared well in our sessions for this game.
“We are expecting a very difficult match, especially not knowing who they are going to play after their last performance against Pirates.
“But we are ready. The players are ready because they know what is expected. We are on 20 points and we want to move to 23.
“So, we are ready for the match.”
With both Richards Bay and Kaizer Chiefs seeking to end their winless runs, Tuesday’s Betway Premiership fixture promises to be a crucial encounter for both sides’ ambitions this season.
