Richards Bay FC coach Papi Zothwane insists Orlando Pirates cannot count on them to beat Mamelodi Sundowns and gain an edge in the heated Betway Premiership title race.
The Natal Rich Boyz have made Umhlathuze Sports Complex a fortress, losing only once in the league when they were edged 2-1 by Orbit College FC in October 2025. The other team to come out with victory from that venue this season was AmaZulu FC, but in the Nedbank Cup.
Kaizer Chiefs suffered a 1-0 defeat when they visited Richards Bay at the beginning of March. Pirates are the latest team to have failed to collect maximum points at Umhlathuze Stadium after being held to a 2-2 draw on Friday.
That share of spoils denied second-placed Buccaneers an opportunity to reclaim the Betway Premiership lead. It was an advantage to Sundowns who enjoy a point clear at the top of the table with a game in hand.
While also making sure they have to collect maximum points in their remaining six league games, Pirates will also have to rely on other teams to do the job for them against Sundowns. One fixture drawing interest is the Brazilians’ visit to Umhlathuze Stadium to face Richards Bay on April 25.
It is a tricky trip for Masandawana, who will face a team that has proved to be stubborn in their own backyard. But Sundowns have adopted a mean mode in the PSL and are on a 10-match winning streak.
While confident about his side’s home record, Zothwane has lowered Pirates’ expectations on them to beat the Brazilians.
ZOTHWANE INSISTS PIRATES ‘CANNOT BANK ON US’
“They can’t bank on us because we’ve got our own mission. We always emphasise to our players that no one must come out here,” said Zothwane.
“That’s the slogan for every team that we are playing against. That’s why we only lost one game against Orbit in the league.
“It’s difficult to beat us here because we are not only playing for ourselves but also for our supporters. They have been hungry for matches here.
“When they come here, they must get something from us. It feels good to play in front of our supporters after a long time. So, whatever we do, we do it for our supporters.”
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