Arrows look to complete Richards Bay double

Golden Arrows will battle it out with their KwaZulu-Natal rivals, Richards Bay, in a DStv Premiership match at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 3:30 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Abafana Bes'thende breathed a sigh of relief after they snapped their 11-match winless run across all competitions when they secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Polokwane City away on 10 March.

Arrows are placed eighth on the DStv Premiership standings - three points behind seventh-placed Kaizer Chiefs and three points above 13th-placed Chippa United as the battle to finish in the top eight hots up.

Meanwhile, Richards Bay are wounded at the moment having extended their winless run to four matches across all competitions when they lost 3-1 to SuperSport United at home in the Nedbank Cup on 16 March.

The Natal Rich Boys are placed 15th on the DStv Premiership standings - seven points behind 14th-placed Moroka Swallows and two points above the direct relegation spot (16th) which is currently occupied by Cape Town Spurs.

TEAM NEWS

Arrows and Richards Bay have no suspension worries coming into this KwaZulu-Natal Derby encounter and they are to report injuries in their respective camps.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Golden Arrows coach Steve Komphela:

“I think they [Richards Bay] are desperate for points. They know that it is more important to play league matches than cup games at this stage for them.

“With that said, they are still a good team. There are a lot of good players, and you can't underestimate the power they have. Sometimes it happens in football that the players you have are not exactly at the level of expectations with regards to points. And that does not make them a bad team.

"They are still dangerous; it is a derby and their coach [Vusumuzi Vilakazi] worked with us. He understands our DNA. He knows exactly how we think and how we behave. I worked with him. He knows what I think, so it will be difficult.”

Richards Bay coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi:

"When we finish the Arrows, we will play against Mamelodi Sundowns and Moroka Swallows. In these three games, we will fight for seven points.

"For the Arrows and Swallows, we will have to get three points in each game. For Sundowns, we will fight for a point. What I know is that in these ten games, we will be fighting for 30 points. I hope we will do well.

"The Arrows players are motivated because of the arrival of the new coach. This game will be difficult, we will fight with everything in it. "We need these three points to beat the Arrows. We will have enough time to correct mistakes, especially in front of the goals."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nduduzo Sibiya, Arrows: The skilful attacking midfielder scored the winning goal against Polokwane. Sibiya will now look to help Abafana Bes'thende complete a league double over Richards Bay as Arrows won 2-1 in the first-round clash last August.

Sanele Barns, Richards Bay: The quick forward is the Natal Rich Boys player with the most goals (three) and assists (three) in the league this season. Barns could be the player to inspire Richards Bay to a much-needed victory in this KZN Derby clash.

Head-to-Head

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2022/23 Arrows 0-2 Bay Ntsundwana, Mabaso

2022/23 Bay 0-1 Arrows Moon

2023/24 Bay 1-2 Arrows Komane (pen); Moon, Ncube

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2022/23)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Arrows 1 0 0 1 0 2

Bay 2 0 0 2 1 3

Away

P W D L GF GA

Arrows 2 2 0 0 3 1

Bay 1 1 0 0 2 0

Total

P W D L GF GA

Arrows 3 2 0 1 3 3

Bay 3 1 0 2 3 3