Rich Boyz riding a wave
The coaching collective
AmaZulu FC went from local footballing royalty to complete obscurity before their return to the topflight two seasons ago. In what was a real scare for a team always known to play football the South African way, producing players by the bucketload in the process, Golden Arrows were relegated to the second tier and returned successfully. Maritzburg United have had their few skirmishes with the dreaded drop during the last few seasons, but have hung on for dear life.
These are teams that have failed to really stamp their authority and challenge the big boys of Mzansi football for trophies, and this season KwaZulu-Natal has a new representative in the elite division. It’s been a more than decent start to life in the DStv Premiership for the Natal Rich Boyz, perched just behind Mamelodi Sundowns on the log standings at the time of writing, but will it prove to just be a flash in the pan in the long run? In this write-up, Soccer Laduma’s Delmain Faver takes a closer look.
One thing Richards Bay FC’s charismatic owner Sfiso Jomo Biyela did when his club gained promotion from the then GladAfrica Championship (now Motsepe Foundation Championship) at the end of the 2021/22 season was to keep his faith in the coaching structure that led them to the Promised Land that is the DStv Premiership. Not many are so fortunate to get such trust and belief from management, as too often club bosses are known to renege on their word and go for coaches they think are better suited to lead the side in the topflight. That in many cases such moves backfire is a story for another day. However, in this instance, Biyela kept his faith in coach Pitso Dladla. After his side gained promotion in May, he told Soccer Laduma, “The coaches will be part of the team, but we can’t say much for now, besides assuring that no one in the technical team will leave.”
Indeed. The club only reinforced the technical team with the addition of Vasili Manousakis initially as a technical advisor. Two months later, in August, the club confirmed that Manousakis was to serve as cocoach alongside Dladla. After
all, the cool-as-a-cucumber and amiable UEFA A Licence holder has worked with Benni McCarthy down at Cape Town City as well as at AmaZulu FC, so why not tap into that wealth of experience and wisdom for a club making its maiden appearance in what is a demanding league. The UEFA A Licence holder has worked in the topflight for the last five years and when his contract with Usuthu was terminated, Biyela wasted no time in head-hunting him. Together, the coaches have formulated a plan that has worked to perfection, collecting 1.80 points-per-match. As things
stand, the duo look set to not only reach the 30-point mark that under normal circumstances guarantee a club’s safety in the DStv Premiership for another season, but they look to head into the prolonged mid-season break comfortably within the Top Eight bracket. It’s also worth noting that co-coaching is no easy business, as coaches who’ve been part of such an arrangement will be the first to admit, but Dladla and Manousakis have made it work and, judging by the club’s league position, have been able to get the message across to their charges without there being any confusion. For a duo working together for the first time ever, leading a rookie side in a tough league such as the PSL, they deserve a lot of credit for the club’s progress.
Strategic recruitment
“Richards Bay is well-run, we take care of our players, better than some of the teams in the DStv Premiership. We are not rich or poor and we won’t sell it because this team belongs to the community. It was formed through hardship after what happened to Thanda Royal Zulu. We don’t have financial problems, it is not for sale.” These were Biyela’s words when asked to describe what type of team he would be bringing into the league. It is also through using these principles that the club has recruited this season. The KZN-based outfit brought in 16 players at the start of the campaign, many of which boast top-flight experience having been discarded by their clubs. What usually happens with these so-called ‘rejects’ is that they come with fire under their belly, often wanting to prove wrong their detractors and the clubs that let them go, and as a result, the ‘receiving’ club is the better for it. Ntsikelelo Nyauza,
Abel Mabaso and Luvuyo Memela, surprisingly allowed to leave Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu FC respectively, are a case in point. That is because, in part, they are under much less pressure under their current side, who are only expected to roll over for other teams to collect points from, which is why supporters sometimes wonder if it is the same player doing so well who had doubts hanging over him at his previous club. Smart, smart business. To their credit, Richards Bay have also held on to a number of players that helped them seal automatic promotion, even if they had to part ways with 12 others. Regulars like Somila Ntsundwana, Tshepo Mabua, Katlego Maphathe, Simphiwe Mcineka all played a pivotal role in the side winning promotion and were rewarded for their contribution this season. Amongst those brought in, Siyanda Msani, Sanele Barnes and Salim Jamal Magoola are amongst those who have had an immediate impact so far.
Relationship with the Big Three
Of the 16 players roped in at the start of the season, five are from the traditional Big Three. Mabaso, Ntsikelelo Nyauza and Nkanyiso Zungu (on loan) are from the Buccaneers, while Siyanda Msani (on loan) and Harold Majadibodu are from Mamelodi Sundowns. In addition, the club also signed two players from KZN rivals Usuthu in Neil Boshoff and Memela. Having close ties with some of the DStv Premiership big hitters could work well for a club like the Natal Rich Boyz. While they might be deemed surplus to requirements at their respective parent clubs, arriving on loan at the rookies provides them with the perfect platform to get much-needed game-time in a competitive and professional environment, making sure to go back to their parent clubs in better shape… or even stay on in Durban permanently. In the case of South African national U23 international Msani, who joined on loan from the Brazilians, he has been one of the club’s top performers this season. However, had he remained at Chloorkop, the reality is that he would have been behind Aubrey Modiba, Terrence Mashego and Sifiso Ngobeni in the pecking order, which shows that healthy loan arrangements for a small side like Richards Bay with some of their more affluent counterparts is a win-win situation for all involved.