Richards Bay FC earn welcome break after vital victory
HAVING put in an excellent final match day performance that ensured their National First Division status, Richards Bay FC players and staff are taking a well-earned rest.
The NRB boys played brilliantly away to Mbombela United on Sunday, securing a 1-0 win that lifted them from possible relegation to a satisfactory 12th position on the log.
Stanley Muishond’s strike and some stubborn resistance by the defenders and goalkeeper carved out the perfect result, to the relief of management and supporters.
Credit must go to caretaker coach Sello Ntuli, who had been the steady rock of the club as three head coaches came and went during the course of the campaign.
With his technical team, he engineered wins in their crucial final two games and obviously enjoys the respect of the players who respond to his methods.
With PSL promotion games and the Soccer World Cup looming, Richards Bay players will disband for now and return to training on 2 July.
‘We achieved objective number one, which was to retain our NFD place in our first season,’ Ntuli said on Tuesday.
‘Obviously our ultimate aim is to gain promotion to the PSL, but that is not our immediate concern.
‘This is the time of the year for many changes as contracts expire, loan players return to their clubs, new signings are made and other factors mean we will only know what we have to work with when we get back together.
‘What I can say is that we were a much better side than our log position shows,’ said Ntuli.
‘We played some great football and should have collected many more points. There were far too many drawn matches in the early part of the season.’