Richards Bay desperately seeking a result against Rise And Shine

Richards Bay head coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi maintains the belief that he can keep them up as they prepare to take on Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday, May 8.

Kick-off is at 7.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

Current form:

Vilakazi got off to a shaky start after being handed the reins during the mid-season break following the sacking of Kaitano Tembo on December 25, going winless in his opening six matches.

However, results have improved markedly in the past month as 'Kanu' guided the Natal Rich Boyz to four wins in their last five games, with the only blip being a 1-0 defeat to Cape Town Spurs on April 26.

A 2-1 victory over local rivals AmaZulu four days later took the KZN club within six points of Royal AM (14th) and Moroka Swallows (13th) in 15th place with four fixtures remaining in the season.

Rise And Shine were challenging for continental football earlier this term, but a dip in form after the mid-season break has seen them drop out of the top eight.

But Phuti Mohafe's side beat basement boys Cape Town Spurs 1-0 on April 30 to move up to ninth position, level on 33 points with Kaizer Chiefs directly above them in the standings.

They face fierce competition from Chippa United, Golden Arrows, Usuthu, Swallows and Thwihli Thwahla, who are separated by just four points.

What was said:

Richards Bay head coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi

"It's very important for my profile and career to save Richards Bay. I was brave enough to accept the challenge.

"The chairman [Jomo Biyela] trusted me with a R65m status and said 'this young, upcoming coach will be able to save the team'.

"What I am doing here isn't a child's play and there are more experienced coaches who wouldn't have taken this job, seeing that the ship was sinking.

"I am brave and I believe in myself. I am still saying that this isn't the best of Kanu ... people are yet to see Kanu as a coach."

Players to watch:

Polokwane City - Oswin Appollis was a real threat against the Urban Warriors, having stung the palms of Neil Boshoff with a strike from range in the second minute before hitting the base of the right post on 27 minutes. The 22-year-old winger recently scored his fifth goal of the campaign in a 1-1 draw with SuperSport United.

Richards Bay - Sanele Barns put in another fine performance against AmaZulu and was rewarded for his efforts with an 87th-minute winner as he powered a header past Veli Mothwa. It was the 27-year-old winger's fourth goal of the season to go along with his four assists in 24 appearances.

Head-to-Head: (Previous DStv Premiership Meetings)

Matches - 1

Polokwane City wins - 1

Richards Bay wins - 0

Draws - 0