Richards Bay co-coach Ronnie Gabriel expressed pride in his squad despite falling 1-0 to Orlando Pirates in the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout.
Gabriel lauded his players for pushing the Buccaneers to their limit, viewing the loss as a “gracious defeat” that provided key positives for their ongoing campaign.
Pirates Prevail in Tense Battle
The decisive moment came in the 42nd minute at the Moses Mabhida Stadium when Tshepang Moremi scored the only goal of the game. For Orlando Pirates, the result underlined their growing consistency and success in high-stakes matches, booking their spot in the final.
Having already lifted the MTN8 trophy earlier in the season, this victory keeps the Buccaneers on course for a potential domestic double under debut coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
Despite facing one of the most experienced cup campaigners in the country, Gabriel felt his Natal Rich Boyz acquitted themselves exceptionally well.
Forcing the Champions to Desperate Measures
Speaking after the match, Gabriel highlighted the level of discomfort his team inflicted upon the Soweto giants.
“First I must say it was a commendable display by the group,” the Head Coach told The Citizen.
“We gave Pirates numerous nervous moments right to the final whistle, it even ended up with them resorting to time-delaying tactics such that even their goalkeeper [Sipho Chaine] ended up with a yellow card.”
Gabriel emphasised how rarely a team manages to put Pirates under such severe duress.
“So, very seldom do you see a Pirates team under so much pressure and siege. We are disappointed with the result, but in terms of the performance, we are not disappointed, I feel that it was a gracious defeat.”
Focusing on League Growth
Richards Bay showed greater intent in the second half, continually pushing men forward in search of an equalizer.
That being said, they struggled to breach the resilient Pirates defence, which was expertly marshalled by the centre-back partnership of Sibisi and Tapelo Xoki.
The Soweto giants remained composed, defending with numbers and looking dangerous on the counterattack to secure the hard-fought victory. In conclusion, Gabriel urged his team to leverage the high-intensity performance for future results.
“We accept this result, but we must take the positives out of it and continue to grow in our league performances,” he stated.
The Natal Rich Boyz will now refocus on the league as they prepare for their next Betway Premiership fixture against Durban City at home on November 23rd.