Missed chances cost Richards Bay in KZN Derby

Golden Arrows edged the Natal Rich Boys 1–0 at the King Zwelithini Stadium last night to claim early bragging rights.

Gabriel says, despite the defeat, the performance offers a platform to build on this season.

"The first half was a balanced affair between the two teams, but come the second half, we started to take more control of the game in terms of possession and creating goalscoring chances. 

"We have to be more ruthless in attack when we have our opponents against the wall, because just look at how the match ended," said Gabriel. 

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The victory gave Arrows their first win of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign, while Richards Bay suffered a second consecutive loss — a slow start reminiscent of last season when they also needed time to find their rhythm.

Gabriel says the new signings have already embraced the team’s style of play, and he’s encouraged by their competitive displays.

"In terms of the synergy in the team, we feel the telepathy between some of the players, and we can see that we are playing a good brand of football, we just need to start punishing the opposition." 

Richards Bay are still adapting to life without striker Yanela Mbuthuma, who joined Orlando Pirates after scoring five goals and providing two assists last season.

In response, Gabriel brought in experienced forward Gabadinho Mhango on a free transfer from Marumo Gallants as a like-for-like replacement to spearhead their attack. Asked if he plans to strengthen the position further, Gabriel says he believes their current acquisitions are more than capable of filling the void left by departed players.

Next Tuesday, Richards Bay travel to Johannesburg to face a Kaizer Chiefs side that has made a strong start, winning both their opening league matches.

Gabriel acknowledges that playing Amakhosi away is never easy, but believes his side can compete if they turn possession into goals.