Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Mar 16, 2025.
Richards Bay FC (0) 2
(Gcaba 48’, Mbuthumba 72’)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Betway Premiership
King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi
Kaizer Chiefs will be disappointed to go into the FIFA international break on the back of a forgettable 2-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Richards Bay in their Betway Premiership clash at the Goodwill Zwelithini stadium in Umlazi, south of Durban, on Sunday afternoon.
Second half goals from Fekile Gcaba and Yanela Mbuthumba gave the hosts three points that could prove vital in their quest for safety come the end of the season. However, Amakhosi will bemoan an opportunity missed, as once again, they came up short at the business end of the pitch and could deliver the killer blow, despite some of their enterprising build-up play.
Amakhosi took a while to get to grips with the breezy conditions in Umlazi and, despite a decent effort from Dillan Solomons in the 5th minute, when he turned well but shot too high after receiving a square pass from Glody Lilepo from the right.
Bruce Bvuma proved again what good shot-stopper he is in the 17th minute when he pulled off an excellent save to keep his goal intact.
Amakhosi found themselves unable to assert themselves against a team that showed they are in a battle for survival, fighting for every ball and disrupting any cohesion the Glamour Boys were trying to create. One sweeping move in the 36th minute came close to fruition, as Amakhosi broke from defence through Thabo Cele, who fed Solomons in acres of space on the right. He slipped it down the line to Ashley Du Preez. The striker cut in and found Pule Mmodi on the edge of the box but his shot lacked the power to beat Salim Magoola in the Richards Bay goal. Similarly, Du Preez’s 21st minute header lacked the power to trouble the ‘keeper.
Amakhosi’s only other opportunity came from a corner which Given Msimango headed down into the ground and wide of the target.
Notwithstanding the commendable effort of both sets of players, neither team could turn their potentially threatening attacking intentions into any tangible reward in what was generally an error-ridden first half and they went into the break level and goalless.
The second half got off to a terrible start as Chiefs were caught cold three minutes in when defender Gcaba escaped his marker and glanced a header from a Justice Figueredo past Bvuma to the Rich Boys into the lead.
Amakhosi continued to try to break down the hosts’ stubborn resistance but far too often they worked their way impressively up to the final third only to misplace the decisive pass at the crucial time.
They found themselves 2-0 down in the 72nd minute when Thulani Gumede’s shot rebounded off the post straight to Mbuthuma, who side-footed the ball into a gaping net and Chiefs were left with a mountain to climb.
Not even the introduction of young starlets, Mfundo Vilakazi and Wandile Duba could alter the course of the game and it was with a sense of relief that the final whistle came so that Amakhosi can consign this episode to history and concentrate on avoiding a repeat performance.
Coach Nabi will have a lot to ponder during the hiatus as they remain in 8th position on the log, with 29 points from 22 matches.
Line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma (44), Dove (2), Miguel © (84), Msimango (25), Solomons (18), Mthethwa (5) (Castillo (17) 62’), Cele (21) (Maart (8) 80’) Shabalala (42) (Duba (36) 73’) Mmodi (13) (Sirino (10) 62’), Lilepo (99), Du Preez (9) (Vilakazi (28) 73’)
Subs not used: Ntwari (30), Kwinika (4), Cross (48), Ngcobo (12)
Coach: Nasreddine Nabi
Richards Bay: Magoola (16), Gcaba (2), Mabua (72), Ndaba (3), Mcineka © (25), Zikhali (36), Figuareido (23) (Kutumela (11) 87’), Mthembu (20), Mhlongo (21), Ntsundwana (45) (Gumede (17) 37’), Mbuthuma (9) (Machuphu (29) 87’)
Subs not used: Otieno (1); Bomelo (27), Ngema (33), Mohlamme (7), Zulu (44), Mntungwa (47)
Coach: Ronnie Gabriel
