Kopano Monaheng
Victory eluded the Richards Bay FC in the first four Betway Premiership matches this campaign – frustratingly so – but there can be no doubt that the KZN lads are building a noteworthy foundation to launch themselves towards an eventual triumph.
Their defence has been rock solid thus far, despite losing narrowly to the Marumo Gallants FC side, then Golden Arrows and thirdly to Kaizer Chiefs. They even lost to Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN 8.
While everyone thought they were going to collect points against them, they shocked many when they won their first match of the season against Chippa United 1 nil who are also struggling to register wins this season.
Richards Bay have never lost a single game since then, drawing nil-nil against Siwelele and a 1-all draw to TS Galaxy.
On Wednesday 24 September the KZN team registered another win and this time it was against the Carling Cup defending champions Magesi.
Richards next away league encounter is up against Mamelodi Sundowns on 27 September.
Speaking to their talisman, Knox Mutizwa, at the Carling Knockout Round of 16 draw launch in Joburg, on Monday, he said it was not going to be easy to meet the Chilli Boys again after defeating them 1-nil a month ago.
“There’s a mandate brother to win this cup. You saw Magesi winning it last season. It’s anyone’s cup now and I think this is an opportunity to win it for our chairman,” he said, adding that as players they also want to win silverware, something to show off at the end of the season.
Knox might not be available for selection when the two clubs clash once again next week in the Carling Cup if his work permit still not sorted out.
This year’s Carling Knockout is set to kick off on 4 October with the Round of 16, while the quarter-finals will take place on the weekend of 25 October. The semis are scheduled for 8 November and the final is set for 6 December.
Knox wants to do better this season scoring more goals for his new club.
“Anything is possible. Like I said, obviously, my target is to score goals and make sure I win matches for my team,” he concluded.
Last year, Magesi FC became surprise winners after beating Orlando Pirates and went all the way to the final defeating the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns in the final, while the year before Stellenbosch FC won the cup to lift their first-ever trophy.
The winners of the Carling Knockout will then again face a team of PSL stars and DStv Diski Challenge players, voted for by the fans, in the Carling Black Label Cup on 13 December.
This year’s Last 16 has brought some enticing ties, with Stellenbosch FC and Kaizer Chiefs renewing their cup rivalry once again after Amakhosi beat the Cape Winelands en route to the Nedbank Cup triumph while the two clashed in the Betway Premiership opener which Chiefs won as well.
The brand director of Curling Black Label, Kerryn Greenleaf, said:
“We announced our 2025 calling Knockout and today we announced something super exciting, something fully for the fans, and that is be the champion coach, where a fan has the opportunity to go from trying to be a coach.”
She went on:
“On their couch to being a coach in real life. And not only will they just be a coach, but they will coach the Carling all Stars team, the team voted for solely by the fans, and they take on whoever wins the prestigious knockout.”
