Photo Credit: Richards Bay.
Richard Bay FC coach Ronnie Gabriel says his team paid the price of ‘sitting too deep’ in the one-all draw against Stellenbosch FC on Friday, February 21, 2025.
Gabriel faulted his Durban-based team for defending too close to their goal after scoring through Thato Mahlame two minutes into the game at Danie Craven Stadium in Cape Town.
“We were not on top of our game. Although we got a goal earlier on, we started to sit back for longer periods to protect the lead towards half-time. We defended well but I felt we could have played higher up the pitch and taken the game to the opponents,” he said.
The hosts replied with a penalty goal from Fawaaz Basadien in the 78th minute. The visitors’ hard-working defender Keegan Allen had fouled Lesiba Nku. The equalizer excited Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker who hailed his team’s battling mentality after going behind.
“The response was good. It just felt like in the first half, the ball wasn’t bouncing at the right place and right moment. Credit to the players. They kept on pushing and trying. It was not easy as Richard Bay was playing deep. Credit to the boys for at least coming back and getting a point,” he said.
Stellenbosch are in seventh place following the sixth draw of the season, 21 points behind commanding leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. Richards Bay, with just four wins in 17 games all season, sit in the risky bottom-four relegation zone.
Barker’s men now take on revived Magesi FC on February 25 while Richards Bay welcome wounded Chippa United on March 1, 2025.
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