RICHARDS Bay co-coach Papi Zothwane and his partner in crime Ronnie Gabriel will be looking to finish in the Top 8 after some strong perfomances this season.
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It's unclear whether or not the current coaching structure at Richards Bay football club will retain their jobs if the team doesn't finish within the Top 8 this season.
After an 11th place finish in the league last season, club ownership will expect a MTN8 appearance next season, at the very least.
To say Papi Zothwane and Ronnie Gabriel are under pressure right now would be an understatement. Gabriel has been assistant coach for over three years now while Zothwane is in his second season.
There's enough talent within the ranks and points left up for grabs for Natal Rich Boys to make a Top 8 finish, but consistency has evaded them this season. The latest 2-2 draw against Orlando Pirates at home instilled some hope back in their fans who have, to some extent, been left frustrated this season, with just six wins in 24 matches.
Bay ended last season with just six wins, so by pure math, they've already performed better this year.
A strong final lap in these last six games of the season could turn those numbers into tangible results. They're the only KwaZulu-Natal team outside the Top 10 bracket so far and besides their own club aspirations — could also uplift the optics on KZN football as a whole. Again, if they crack into the Top 8.
Their next game against TS Galaxy on Sunday afternoon, might not be as straight forward though. Galaxy want the same thing and they have way more confidence right now. Largely because they've made the final of the Nedbank Cup and stand a chance to take the trophy for the second time.
They'd likely be saving the 50 caliber weapons for the Nedbank Cup final, but Galaxy also stand a chance of making the MTN8 next season with six games left but lag behind a smidge on points.
Richards Bay have the better campaign, by a long shot, but still could make it better.
That's if Lamontville Golden Arrows or Polokwane City lose ground. As it stands, Arrows complete the Top 8 but have also been inconsistent in the league. But their next game against Orbit College takes the pressure off a bit and could mean another three points.
Stellenbosch have also enjoyed an eight-game winnig streak recently and are ahead of Richards Bay, making their push even more difficult.
Jehran Naidoo is sports reporter for Independent Media and social media coordinator of the our YouTube channel The Clutch.