Richards Bay claim first home win ahead of Sundowns test

The KwaZulu-Natal outfit secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Magesi FC at the Umhlathuze Sports Complex, their first win since returning to their home ground this season.

Gabriel praised his players for a disciplined and polished performance.

"Coming into this game against Magesi, we knew that it was going to be a tough encounter, and today we wanted to win this game for our supporters and show our appreciation for them in our home ground."

Striker Lindokuhle Zikhali netted the decisive goal in the 76th minute, handing the Natal Rich Boyz their third league win of the campaign and stretching their unbeaten run to five matches.

Gabriel revealed that his side had to adjust their approach due to tricky weather conditions, and the tactical switch proved crucial in creating the match-winner.

"Overhead conditions did not allow us to play our usual free-flowing football, so we had to adjust our match tactics, and the group responded very well.

"We created a few goal-scoring chances in the first half, we couldn't take them, but in the second half, ascendency was on our side, and the youngster Zikhali stepped up to give us much-needed three points."

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Next, Gabriel’s charges face a trip to Pretoria to take on reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns. The coach says the victory over Magesi was a timely confidence booster, but insists his side will carry a positive mindset into what will be one of their toughest tests of the season.

Meanwhile, earlier in the week at the launch of the Carling Knockout Cup, Richards Bay’s new signing Knox Mutizwa said the team is determined to go beyond the semi-final stage, where they have fallen twice before.

The veteran forward believes the squad has the quality and hunger to challenge for silverware in this year’s edition.