Despite a narrow derby defeat to AmaZulu, Richards Bay coach Papi Zothwane is staying positive about the province’s growing influence in the Betway Premiership. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Richards Bay FC coach Papi Zothwane believes KwaZulu-Natal’s top-flight clubs are steadily raising the bar in the Betway Premiership — even as his side fell short in the latest provincial derby.
The Natal Rich Boyz suffered a narrow 2–1 defeat to AmaZulu FC at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, a result that lifted Usuthu back into fourth place on the standings.
For Richards Bay, the loss leaves them 12th on the table, though the gap to the coveted top-eight positions remains small. They sit just two points behind TS Galaxy, who currently occupy eighth spot, keeping the northern KwaZulu-Natal outfit firmly within striking distance.
Despite the disappointment of the derby defeat, Zothwane preferred to look at the broader picture of the province’s football landscape.
“It’s very good for KZN football and obviously if you play for a team that has ambitions, we as coaches have goals and players as well have drive to do better individually and as a team.”
His comments reflect a growing sense that KwaZulu-Natal’s representatives are beginning to compete more consistently in the top half of the league table.
AmaZulu have previously represented the province on the continental stage, while newly promoted Durban City FC — coached by various coaches — have also forced their way into the top-eight conversation this season.
Zothwane believes that competitive ambitions across multiple KZN clubs ultimately raises the level for everyone involved.
“The boys knew if they didn’t win today they’d give teams behind them a chance to catch up but if they won they’d be in the Top 8 but we don’t want to dwell on that too much now but the goal is to always be in and around the top eight but it’s good to see AmaZulu play CAF in the past and also see Durban City now in the top eight as well.”
Richards Bay’s derby outing also came at the end of a demanding run of fixtures.
The side had only played three days earlier against Orlando Pirates before heading into the high-intensity provincial clash.
Still, Zothwane refused to use the congested schedule as an excuse.
“I don’t want to complain because of the result today, because in the league you play on Saturday and then Tuesday, it’s part of our job and the players know that because we’ve done it before and won in the past.”
Instead, the Richards Bay coach acknowledged the physical toll of the schedule while maintaining that his side still produced a competitive display.
“We knew that we would get tired one way or the other because of the intensity of the game because of the game we played on Wednesday but that’s no excuse because the performance was okay and we got chances to score.”
With the season entering a crucial phase, Richards Bay remain determined to keep their push for a Top 8 finish alive — while the broader rise of KwaZulu-Natal clubs continues to reshape the province’s footprint in South African football.