Polokwane City reignited their continental aspirations with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Richards Bay in a crucial Betway Premiership clash.
Lebohang Nkaki was the architect of the win, contributing directly to all three of his side’s goals. The talented forward bagged a brace, scoring before and after the break, and also provided the assist for Mokibelo Ramabu’s goal as Rise and Shine climbed to sixth in the standings, level on points with Sekhukhune United on 34.
Richards Bay briefly threatened a comeback when Justice Figuareido netted the equaliser in the 52nd minute, but it was a short-lived moment of hope. The loss, their second in three matches, leaves the Natal Rich Boyz stuck in 12th place.
The match carried plenty of weight for both teams. Phuti Mohafe’s Rise and Shine were desperate to end a seven-match winless streak that had seen them slip out of continental contention, while Richards Bay, fresh off a 2-0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs, were looking to build on their recent form.
The first half was tightly contested, with both teams sharing possession, but Polokwane made theirs count. Despite struggling to find their best form this season, Oswin Appollis provided a vital assist with a well-timed cross that Nkaki headed home in the 21st minute to give the hosts the lead.
Before the break, Richards Bay’s coach, Papi Zothwane, made a tactical change, swapping right-back Fezile Gcaba for Thato Mohlamme. However, the visitors still went into halftime trailing 1-0.
Zothwane’s halftime speech seemed to spark life into his side, and just seven minutes into the second half, Figuareido pounced on a rebound to score, leveling the game at 1-1. But the parity didn’t last long—Nkaki, in a brilliant individual performance, turned provider this time, feeding Ramabu for a well-taken finish to restore Polokwane’s lead.
The match was effectively sealed in the 71st minute when Nkaki was awarded a penalty and calmly converted from the spot, giving Rise and Shine a 3-1 advantage. Despite further opportunities for the hosts to extend their lead, Richards Bay keeper Brian Bwire stood tall, pulling off two crucial saves to prevent the scoreline from worsening.
In the end, Polokwane’s relentless attacking play and Nkaki’s stunning all-around performance earned them a crucial three points as they continue their push for a continental spot. For Richards Bay, it’s back to the drawing board after a promising start to the second half was undone by defensive lapses.