Ronnie Gabriel, the manager of Richards Bay, believes his team has been abandoned by fortune.
Richards Bay suffered their sixth consecutive defeat against SuperSport United at King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday, a match in which they appeared to be in control for the majority.
They squandered a penalty opportunity in the 36th minute when Nkosikhona Ndaba’s poorly executed shot was parried by Thakasani Mbanjwa.
Despite their superiority, Richards Bay fell behind when veteran striker Bradley Grobler scored a precise first-time shot in the 89th minute, enabling the visitors to secure all three points and ease some of the pressure on their coach, Gavin Hunt, whose team had been outplayed.
Reflecting on the team’s recent struggles, Gabriel stated: “Experience in this sport teaches us that there are seasons and moments when the odds just don’t favor you,” he admitted.
“As the season unfolds, perhaps these moments will begin to favor us. We must continue to believe and trust that fortune will eventually favor us, allowing us to reverse our luck and secure a win.
“In these tough times, yes, things aren’t going our way. Just look at today’s game – we missed a penalty, dominated possession, yet they scored late, leaving us empty-handed.
“It’s a frustrating outcome, but we need to learn from this experience and improve our finishing in preparation for the next match against Golden Arrows.”
Club chairman Sifiso Biyela also commended the team’s performance, describing it as their finest display of the season.
SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt shared Gabriel’s views, acknowledging that his team was fortunate to secure a victory. He emphasized the significance of the three points, which brought some relief to his squad.
“It was a tough match for Bay, but I must praise the pitch; it was excellent,” Hunt remarked.
“There were times when we were simply trying to play. For us, tonight was more about gaining the result than delivering an impressive performance.
“Both teams have struggled to find wins recently, and there was a noticeable sense of anxiety in our play.
“Securing the points was crucial for both sides, with performance becoming secondary. We were lucky with the penalty; when it happened, I thought, ‘Here we go again’.
“As I’ve mentioned, the primary takeaway is the points, which give us a slight boost and some much-needed breathing room. However, this relief won’t last long as we have another game this weekend, just like everyone else.”
