Papi Zothwane welcomes pressure as Richards Bay eyes top-eight push after Orlando Pirates defeat

Richards Bay FC head co-coach Papi Zothwane has welcomed the pressure that comes with his side hovering between the relegation zone and the top eight, describing it as a motivation to keep delivering strong performances.

The Natal Rich Boys suffered a narrow 2-0 loss to Orlando Pirates in their latest Betway Premiership outing, with Oswin Appollis opening the scoring before a late penalty from Evidence Makgopa sealed the win for the Buccaneers. Despite the scoreline, Zothwane saw encouraging signs in his team’s performance.

“Much of the match was balanced, and our players showed great commitment and character. It was a good match, considering that we were playing Pirates and they are fighting for the league with the quality they possess. 

“Our players played exceptionally well, but the goal came when we least expected it, and we could have done better in that situation. Playing against Pirates, you do not want to give them too much space behind,” Zothwane said after the match.

The match highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in the final third, where Richards Bay struggled to convert promising chances. The coach also noted defensive adjustments his side tried during the game.

“In the first half, we defended too deep, and that is where the goal came from. But we reacted better after that, and in the second half, we tried to push the line higher. 

“The players played well, even though we didn’t take our chances, but we can build from this performance,” he added.

Richards Bay will look to bounce back in their upcoming KwaZulu Natal derby against AmaZulu, hoping to convert more of their opportunities into goals and climb the table.

Currently, they sit just one point behind eighth-placed TS Galaxy, while only five points separate them from 15th-placed Orbit College, underscoring the tight margins in both the fight for survival and the push for a top-eight finish.

Zothwane believes the close competition only adds to his team’s focus and determination.

“We are fighting for the top eight and to avoid relegation. It’s very difficult because every game you play, you play to win. If you don’t, the teams behind might catch up. 

“You have to be aware of both sides — looking up and looking behind — because the motivation comes from knowing that had we won, we would be in the top eight. Either way, it keeps us focused and drives the players to keep performing."

* Obakeng Meletse is Independent Media’s multi-sport writer. For fresh video content, follow our YouTube channel The Clutch