Staff Reporter.
Richards Bay secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over relegation-threatened Cape Town City in the Betway Premiership match played at the King Goodwill Zwelithini stadium.
The victory elevated the Natal Rich Boys to the 11th spot in the league standings. The KwaZulu-Natal side will be hoping to make it two wins in a row when they face Mamelodi Sundowns in Tshwane on 26 April.
The Citizens, on the other hand, remained 14th in the standings after registering their 14th league defeat of the season. The Mother City side will be desperate for a victory when they host champions Sundowns on 4 May.
Richards Bay had a decent opportunity to break the deadlock in the 44th minute after Thulani Gumede had set up Ntlonelo Bomelo, whose low shot was well-saved by goalkeeper Darren Keet and the score was 0-0 at the interval.
The Citizens came back as an improved side after the restart, and they were finally able to seriously test keeper Ian Otieno in the 73rd minute. Jaedin Rhodes unleashed an attempt which was well saved by the Kenya international.
However, eventual Man of the Match, Gumede, made no mistake at the other end in the 79th minute. Substitute Wandile Ngema set up Gumede, who made no mistake as the winger fired past Keet to seal Richards Bay’s 1-0 victory over City.
Meanwhile Themba Zwane has penned a new deal with Mamelodi Sundowns that will keep him at Chloorkop until the 2025/26 season.
“Mshishi is here to stay! Captain Themba Zwane has penned a contract extension, keeping him at the Club beyond the 2024/25 season,” Sundowns announced.
Zwane has been injured since October 2024 and Masandawana were delaying in offering a new deal to see his recovery process.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.