City eye top eight & Downs challenge

Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler has said that his side wants to make sure of a top eight finish in the DStv Premiership this season, while casting one eye on Mamelodi Sundowns as the Citizens prepare to take on Richards Bay at the DHL Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

In the face of the automatic drop, Richards Bay still have the chance to escape the PSL Relegation playoff zone with a victory this weekend.

The Natal Rich Boyz currently occupy the PSL Relegation playoff position (15th), just two points behind Royal AM who will face Chippa United this weekend.

With Cape Town Spurs relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, Richards Bay made sure to avoid the automatic drop with a run of four victories in their last six league games.

City on the other hand, bagged just one victory in their previous 12 league assignments.

Their inconsistent run of form in the last couple of months has seen them drop down to seventh on the log, four points ahead of eighth- placed Kaizer Chiefs.

Eric Tinkler and his troops bagged a 3-1 win in the last fixture between the two sides, as goals by Jaedin Rhodes (2) and Khanyisa Mayo were enough for the Mother City outfit to claim maximum points at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in October.

Last batch of limited tickets now available! 🙌

Join us tomorrow for our final home game of the season at the DHL Stadium ➡️ https://t.co/JLm47YLbFG pic.twitter.com/lvdUnnmEo3

— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) May 17, 2024

WHAT WAS SAID

“I think we want to make sure that we secure that top eight position and then let's go into that game against Sundowns with a belief that we can go there and take something away from them,” Tinkler said.

“I think for the fact that they lost a teammate on the field, I think it affected them so much. That’s why they’ve been struggling for too long because the problem was psychologically,” Richards Bay coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi said regarding his team’s form this season.

“I remember the first game when I was in charge, winning against SuperSport [United], the hype, the players were so motivated. So, that was something that was missing.

“But as I’ve said that other things can’t be rectified overnight, so you still need to make sure that you try and motivate them psychologically.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cape Town City: Darwin Gonzalez – The Venezuelan scored an impressive solo effort against TS Galaxy last time out and has been one of City’s best players in the last couple of games. Whether it be scoring or creating, the Natal Rich Boyz will have to keep a keen eye on Gonzalez this weekend.

Richards Bay FC: Somila Ntsundwana – Ntsundwana has been one of Richards Bay’s best players during the second half of the season and could cause the City backline problems, particularly in wide areas of the pitch. City’s highline could provide room for the 27-year-old to gallop in as he often looks to drive the ball into the 18-yard-area.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Last three league results:

2022/23 Richards Bay 1-0 Cape Town City Lakay

2022/23 Cape Town City 2-0 Richards Bay

2023/24 Richards Bay 1-3 Cape Town City