Former Richards Bay FC head coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi has lifted the lid on his shocking exit from the club before the start of the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season.
Vilakazi parted ways with Richards Bay on mutual consent, as first reported by FARPost. The 41-year-old had recently signed a new contract with Bay after helping the club survive relegation through the PSL promotion/relegation playoffs.
The former Golden Arrows mentor joined the Natal Rich Boys in November 2023 to replace Kaitano Tembo, who was fired after failing to produce positive results.
Vilakazi had a contract that would keep him in the team for another season, however following the arrival of the new sponsor Phakwe Gas, there have been talks to rope in an experienced coach.
The CEO of Phakwe Gas, Thabiso Tenyane, hinted to the media last month that Richards Bay would make changes within the coaching staff. And Brandon Truter is the man set to be announced as the club’s new head coach.
WHAT DID VILAKAZI SAY ABOUT HIS EXIT AT RICHARDS BAY FC?
While the KZN-based side is yet to make an official announcement on the departure of Vilakazi, the coach has revealed that his initial contract had performance clause amendments.
“I’m no longer with Richards Bay, even though I just highlighted this one. I was also expecting that maybe a formal statement from the club would be out by now, but they still haven’t done it,” Vilakazi said on Metro FM.
“There are a lot of things there; maybe I won’t get into detail just to respect the club and respect that chairman [Jomo Biyela]. I have to appreciate the opportunity from the club, irrespective of being under pressure.
“It was my first time being under pressure of trying to help the team survive relegation, so I think I played my part even though the impact was little; it’s fine because I was in the set-up. So I must just appreciate that because it’s the experience I will always cherish, as a young coach, being able to help the team survive relegation.
VUSUMUZI VILAKAZI SHEDS LIGHT ON THE NEW CLAUSE IN HIS CONTRACT
“I think I must be honest, we had a contract that we’ve signed with the chairman three or four weeks ago. So we signed both of us and Mike [Makaab] is my representative, he was also there.
“So, I think three or four days ago, there was another contract the club said I must sign. When I looked at the contract, it was the same contract that I’d signed before, but it was now amended, and there’s a performance clause.
“The performance clause said that in the given games, they expect me to get eight points, which is fine, but when you put such a clause in place, you need to be realistic as well.
“I’m making an example, I’m playing Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Stellenbosch, and SuperSport [United]. We have to be realistic about where we can get points.”
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