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Richards Bay FC coach Ronnie Gabriel says the focus remains on collecting as many points as possible in the first half of the Betway Premiership season, despite suffering a 4–1 defeat to defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium over the weekend.
The Natal Rich Boys went into the clash in Pretoria on the back of a five-match unbeaten run, which included morale-boosting victories over Magesi and Stellenbosch FC.
Gabriel believes the run of results gave his squad confidence after opening their campaign with three consecutive losses.
"The mood and the energy within the camp was good, and the boys were looking forward to this evenings encounter. The consistency helped us climb the table to a much more comfortable position, but we need more points in the early part of the season to remain in the top eight bracket."
Gabriel admits Sundowns were sharper on the day but insists Richards Bay will take lessons from the defeat. He says small mistakes proved costly and ended their momentum, but the team is determined to bounce back quickly.
"Going forward, we'll have to examine our errors because from the outside, the minor details let us down in this game, nothing was wrong with our tactical discipline."
Richards Bay have continued to invest in homegrown talent, sticking with their strategy of blooding young players from the region this season.
Gabriel acknowledges that after three early defeats, some questioned the approach, but he believes the youngsters have adapted well to the intensity of top-flight football and are beginning to deliver consistent performances.
Next up for the Natal Rich Boyz is a Carling Knockout Cup clash against Chippa United at the Umhlathuze Sports Ground on Sunday at 15:00.
Gabriel says a good cup run would not only lift spirits in the camp but also give their supporters something to cheer about at home.
