Struggling Richards Bay believe they are set for a massive lift when they return home next week for their first top-flight game at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex.
They are to meet Chippa United next Tuesday, hoping to put an end to their run of four successive defeats this season – three in the Betway Premiership and elimination from the MTN8.
Richards Bay have been unable to use their home ground in the northern KwaZulu-Natal town since they won promotion in 2022 and have spent the last three seasons forced to play their home matches in Durban.
The ground was not up to standard, but belated renovations by the municipality have seen the venue finally approved for use by the Premier Soccer League, and the match against Chippa United is a long-awaited return home for the club.
Coach Ronnie Gabriel said it would be a huge boost for the club. “Massive. Massive playing at home. We’ll be using the supporters as a 12th man,” he said after his side lost 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs at Soccer City on Tuesday.
“We see the support behind teams in the PSL, how well they are performing, and it'll be the same with us. We've got passionate supporters back home and they really will be behind the team, and they'll give us that needed impetus going into the next fixture and giving us a greater chance of picking up the three points at last.”
Richards Bay sit bottom of the table after a poor start to the new season, having surprised in the last campaign by finishing in eighth place.
Gabriel said the coaching staff had no mandate from owner Jomo Biyela for the new campaign.
“The team would like to ideally improve on our last year's position. That's how we wanted to start the season and end the season.
“We wanted to finish off in a higher position coming into this season, yeah. So that's basically our target for this season. But in terms of actual mandate … no, no, no actual mandate.”