The Betway Premiership takes center stage this Friday with an electrifying showdown between AmaZulu FC and Richards Bay FC in a highly-anticipated KwaZulu-Natal derby at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium.
As the league approaches it’s final stages, the stakes in this encounter couldn’t be higher, with both teams seeking to secure crucial points for survival.
AmaZulu find themselves in a challenging position, facing mounting pressure to rediscover their winning ways. Their recent 2-1 loss to Chippa United on 29 March compounded their woes, marking their third straight defeat in the Betway Premiership.
Despite bolstering one of the most competitive squads in the country, Usuthu have struggled to convert opportunities into victories.
Despite this, the hosts hold firm in seventh place, sitting four points behind sixth-placed Polokwane City and three ahead of 10th-placed Golden Arrows. AmaZulu boss Arthur Zwane, however, knows the margins are tightening.
“We were supposed to beat Chippa to consolidate our position,” he said after the loss. “The past four games, the goals we have conceded are identical. We could have done better. Now we’re putting ourselves under pressure because we gave Chippa a lifeline to get closer to us.
“The next game, if you don’t win, we’re out of the top eight. Our target is position four, but those chances are fading because we keep hurting ourselves.”
The visitors, Richards Bay, are also in dire need of results to continue their march toward survival. The Natal Rich Boyz under Ronnie Gabriel and Papi Zothwane will look to capitalize on AmaZulu’s vulnerabilities and leverage their firepower to secure a vital win. That being said, they are also struggling to find consistency.
Their 3-1 defeat to Polokwane City on 30 March was their second loss in three games, leaving the Natal Rich Boys in 13th spot, just two points above the relegation zone and three behind rivals Golden Arrows.
Gabriel remains defiant in the face of adversity. “We cannot be naive and run away from it,” he said. “We are fighting that battle for survival and we understand the dynamics that come into play for us to get out of it.
We are up for the challenge and we will regroup and get better against AmaZulu and get the result at home on Friday.”
AmaZulu boast a potent attacking duo in Etiosa Ighodaro and Hendrick Ekstein, both with four league goals this season. Ighodaro, on loan from Sundowns, has a knack for finding the net, while Ekstein’s creativity keeps defences guessing.
Winger Tshepang Moremi adds dynamism, having scored three goals and provided six assists, including a strike against Chippa.
For Richards Bay, Yanela Mbuthuma leads the charge with four goals, supported by Thulani Gumede’s three assists. Justice Figuareido, with goals against Polokwane City and Kaizer Chiefs, will be key to their hopes of claiming derby bragging rights.
The rivalry has produced tight league battles in recent seasons. Richards Bay took a 1-0 win in 2022/23, but the sides shared a 1-1 draw later that year. Last season’s meetings saw a goalless stalemate and a 2-1 Bay victory.
This campaign, AmaZulu struck back with a 3-1 triumph on Richards Bay’s turf, thanks to goals from Rowan Human, Ighodaro, and Ethan Brooks, with Mbuthuma netting a consolation.
Both teams have everything to play for, AmaZulu to halt their slide and Richards Bay to climb away from danger. Expect a fiercely contested derby where goals from the dangermen could tip the scales. AmaZulu’s attacking flair gives them a slight edge, but Richards Bay’s home resolve makes this one too close to call.