Richards Bay coach promises no relegation struggle this season

Richards Bay coach Brandon Truter is insisting his side will not be involved in another energy-sapping relegation battle that characterised their last season.

The coastal club finished second from bottom in the previous Premiership campaign and had to win the post-season promotion-relegation playoffs to ensure they kept their top-flight status.

But new coach Truter says he has much loftier ambitions.

“We'll be close, if not in the top eight, but there will be no relegation fight this season,” he told SuperSport.com as the club ready for their third game of the new Betway Premiership season away against Royal AM in Maritzburg on Tuesday night.

“The boys just have to believe and have more confidence in themselves. It's about man management. These players for the last two seasons fought to avoid relegation. So, the mindset has to change and that's what we're working towards.”

He said he already had much faith after their first two games of the season.

Richards Bay started with a 1-0 win over TS Galaxy in their opening league match but then lost on Saturday night away against Chippa United in East London.

“I would be worried if we didn't get into the last third, I would be worried if we didn't create chances. It's just a matter of tucking them away but our counter-pressing was good. Our structure was good. We should have defended better the set plays, but there were so many positives.”

Truter arrived belatedly during the pre-season, replacing Vusimuzi Vilakazi, who had been the coach for the preceding six months. 

“You’ll see a different Richards Bay compared to last season. It's a forward-thinking team. It's a counter-pressing team, a team that wants to play higher,” Truter added.

“It's a team that has confidence, a lot of ability, a lot of young players as well, and that all bodes well for the future. The more we play, the better we’ll get.”