Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Mar 03, 2026.
Richards Bay (0) 1
(Gumede 69’)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Betway Premiership
uMhlathuze Sports Complex, Richards Bay
Kaizer Chiefs came away from their first ever appearance in Richards Bay with a disappointing 1-0 defeat in the Betway Premiership clash between the Natal Rich Boyz and the Phefeni Glamour Boys at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex on Tuesday evening.
Thulani Gumede scored the only goal with just over 20 minutes remaining in a match in which Amakhosi failed to sufficiently come to grips with their unfamiliar surroundings. Chiefs remain in fifth place on the league log, with 30 points after 18 matches.
With a point to prove before kick-off, Amakhosi came out on the front foot and the first 10 minutes belonged to them as they pinned the hosts back in their own half and forced a series of corners within the opening three minutes. The Richards Bay defence were scrambling to block shots from first, Lebohang Maboe, and then Asanele Velebayi.
Gradually, the Natal Rich Boyz played their way back into the match and enjoyed a period of control in midfield, although without creating any clear cut opportunities but for a couple of long range strikes that were presented no trouble to Bruce Bvuma.
The encounter settled into a midfield tussle with both teams fighting tooth and nail to dictate proceedings leading to frequent switching of possession and little constructive play, more due to tenacious commitment than lack of quality, as illustrated by the 17 free kicks awarded in the first 45 minutes. Largely through the efforts of Maboe and Sibongiseni Mthethwa, who made his presence felt in typical no-nonsense fashion after returning from an injury layoff, Amakhosi did well to wrest control of the engine room back and managed a couple of efforts towards goal on the stroke of halftime through Aden McCarthy and Gaston Sirino, both of whom had headers fail to find the target, and Bvuma saved Moses Mthembu's shot in what unsurprisingly ended as a scoreless first half.
Chiefs found themselves in an uphill battle for the bulk of the second period as the home side applied pressure and caused the Glamour Boys to have to dig deep, which they managed to do until the 69th minute when they conceded the decisive goal. Richards Bay took advantage of a slip by Bradley Cross following a long punt upfield that was flicked on ,which allowed Sanele Barns to break free in the inside right channel and square the ball for Gumede, who took a touch to wrong-foot Mthethwa as he desperately tried to intercept, and steer the ball past Bvuma into the net.
Chiefs tried valiantly to get back on level terms but were unable to muster even a single shot on target in the second half and they will want to put this experience behind them immediately and focus on their next assignment that awaits, at home against Durban City on 15 March.
Line-ups
Subs not used: Ntwari (71); Miguel (84), Monyane (2), Ndlovu (8)
Coaches: Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze
Richards Bay: Otieno (1), Sikhakhane (5), Mntungwa (47), Zulu (37) (Mabuya (22) 88’), Mcineka © (25), Mthethwa (6), Gumede (17), Zikhali (36), Mthembu (20) (Tuli (45) 80’), Mahala (14) (Mutizwa (18) 71’), Barns (30) (Ngema (33) 71’)
Subs not used: Magoola (16); Mzobe (55), Khumalo (77), Ndelu (35), Nzama (19)
Coaches: Ronnie Gabriel and Papi Zothwane
