Vilakazi says Richards Bay will only focus on teams above them as relegation battle intesifies
Written by Ayanda Nyuswa on 12 March, 2024
By Ayanda Nyuswa
As the Dstv Premiership relegation battle intensifies with ten games to go, Richards Bay FC coach Vumusuzi Vilakazi has urged his side to focus on teams ahead of them, and not the resurgent Cape Town Spurs side who occupy last position in the league.
The Natal Rich Boyz sit in fifteenth position in the DSTV Premiership standings, just two points clear of Ernst Middendorps Urban Worriors. Their latest league outing was a goalless draw against TS Galaxy at home last Saturday, a result that’s extended their winless run in 2024, which includes four league matches with three defeats and one draw. Cape Town Spurs played to a 1-all draw against Stellenbosch FC, a result that has kept the Urban Worriors rooted on the foot of the table.
The Natal Rich Boyz are seven points behind their nearest rivals above them which is Chippa United, with only twelve points between them and the top eight.
“Our focus is on people ahead of us, we cannot focus on people who are behind us,” Said Vilakazi speaking after the goalless draw against TS Galaxy.
“We need to take games we are facing and not be worried about people behind us. Even the teams who are ahead of us they still have a possibility that they can find themselves in relegation, so our focus is on the next game.”
Richards Bay have ten matches to play before the end of the season, with five of those clashes coming against the current top seven in the league but Vilakazi believes his team will be safe if they try to avoid defeat in most of the coming games.
“We will take the point, we will build on top of this point because what we needed is to ensure that we don’t lose the game. We have 32 points to fight for now, so I think we will definitely get something as long as we refuse to lose games I think we will get it right.”
The Natal Rich Boyz will return to league action on 31 March against fellow KZN side Lamontville Golden Arrows, but before that they will meet Supersport United in the Nedbank Cup round of 16.
