DailySun
Ronnie Gabriel, head coach of Richards Bay, believes the footballing Gods have turned their backs on his squad.
Richards Bay suffered their sixth consecutive defeat against SuperSport United at King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday, a game in which they appeared dominant for the majority of the time.
The team squandered a penalty chance in the 36th minute when Nkosikhona Ndaba’s poorly executed shot was saved by Thakasani Mbanjwa.
Despite their superiority, Richards Bay fell behind when veteran striker Bradley Grobler scored a well-placed shot in the 89th minute, allowing the visitors to walk away with all three points and easing some pressure off their coach, Gavin Hunt, whose team had been outplayed.
Gabriel reflected on the team’s tough stretch: “Experience in this sport teaches us that certain seasons and moments are simply not in your favor,” he acknowledged.
“As the season progresses, perhaps these challenging moments will begin to work in our favor. We must maintain our belief and trust that the footballing Gods will eventually shine upon us, enabling us to turn the situation around and secure a win.
“During times like these, it is indeed true that things are not aligning for us. Just look at today’s match – we missed a penalty, dominated the play, yet they scored late, leaving us empty-handed.
“It’s a heartbreaking outcome, but we must learn from this experience and improve our finishing as we gear up for our next match against Golden Arrows.”
Club chairman Sifiso Biyela also commended the team’s performance, describing it as their finest of the season.
SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt echoed Gabriel’s sentiments, admitting his team was lucky to walk away with a victory. He emphasized the significance of the three points, which provided a welcome respite for his team.
“It was a tough game for Bay, but I must give credit to the playing surface; it was excellent,” Hunt stated.
“At times, we were simply trying to execute our play. For us, tonight was more focused on ensuring the result than delivering an impressive performance.
“Both teams have struggled to secure wins lately, and there was a palpable anxiety in our performance.
“Gaining these points was crucial for both teams, with performance quality taking a backseat. We were fortunate with the penalty; when it happened, I thought, ‘Here we go again’.
“As I reiterated, the main takeaway is the points, which give us a boost and some necessary breathing room. However, this relief is short-lived as we have another match scheduled this weekend, just like everyone else.”
