Richards Bay coach Ronnie Gabriel is hoping his side can put together a decent cup run in the Carling Knockout, starting with a home game against Chippa United on Sunday.
The match is at home at the uMhlathuze Complex against a team that Richards Bay have already beaten at home this season, in late August in a game played in KwaMashu in Durban.
“We'll go and play in front of our home support and we like to win all our games at home. So automatically that should take us into the next round and then we'll see where it takes us from there,” said Gabriel.
“But ideally, it'll be good to have a good cup run as well to boost the confidence in a squad, give other players a chance as well in these cup games to express themselves and show us what they are made of as well. A good cup run will always be good for the team,” the coach added.
Ayeye! The #CarlingKnockout Round of 16 tickets are out NOW! ⚽🏆Shay’ ijika at your nearest Shoprite, U-Save, Checkers & Open Ticket. K’sezoba lit 🔥🏟️
— Carling Black Label ᅠᅠᅠᅠ (@blacklabelsa) September 30, 2025
Using #CarlingKnockout QT what else would you like to get after getting tickets at Shoprite, ngikuphathise yona in the DMs! 🍺 pic.twitter.com/PtuZQ6lXXG
Richards Bay reached the Carling Knockout semifinals over the last two seasons but lost both games at home.
They were beaten 3-0 by Stellenbosch in the 2023 semifinal at Umlazi and last season were elimninated 1-0 by Magesi at the same venue.
“I feel that we've got the quality and we've got a team to match all these opponents on the day. I think we've shown it previously. We've shown it last season. We've shown it this season in the last five games, the unbeaten run that we went on (before Mamelodi Sundowns beat them last weekend).
“The teams are all beatable in this league and anyone can beat anyone on the day. So we believe that any encounter that we go, there are possibilities that we could get a result. So we are positive,” added Gabriel.
📅 𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗜𝗫𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦 🔵⚪️🕯🙏
— Richards Bay FC (@RichardsBayFC_) October 1, 2025
⚽ 5 OCT – @ChippaUnitedFC (H)
⚽ 17 OCT – Orbit College FC (H)
See you at the Stadium!#NatalRichBoyZ pic.twitter.com/e7mbULsvnP