Richards Bay fear first win could become psychological barrier after difficult start

Richards Bay coach Ronnie Gabriel is concerned his side’s failure to win any of their opening five league matches could develop into a mental block if the wait continues.

Richards Bay have collected three draws and suffered two defeats so far this season, leaving them still searching for their first three-point haul. Gabriel believes the longer the run lasts, the greater the psychological challenge could become for his players.

“It becomes psychological if it [winless run] goes on longer,” Gabriel said.

The coach remains encouraged by the performances behind the results, pointing to matches in which Richards Bay had taken the lead but were unable to close out victories.

Against Durban City, Bay went in front before allowing their advantage to disappear. They also led Kaizer Chiefs, only to surrender their lead and finish without the win they had been in position to claim.

“I feel like we’ve been performing well. You look at the game against Durban City, we were leading and we let it slip. Against Kaizer Chiefs as well, we were leading but couldn’t hold onto our lead,” he said.

Gabriel believes one victory could change the mood around the side and provide the confidence needed to build momentum. Despite the absence of a win, he feels the team’s displays have shown they are capable of competing for points and converting promising performances into results.

“With those types of performances, we can look back and say we are capable of getting three points. Once we get that one victory, I am sure we will be back on our feet and build from there going forward.”

Richards Bay’s record also highlights a contrast between their attacking output and their defensive problems. The Natal Rich Boys have scored in each of their five league games, registering six goals in total.

However, they have conceded eight times, meaning their inability to protect leads has cost them more points than their goalscoring efforts might otherwise have earned. Gabriel said defensive improvement must now be a priority as the team attempts to end its winless run.

“With the amount of goals we’ve scored so far, it could have given us more points. We have to look at how we defend because the way we are leaking goals is an area where we should improve. It’s glaring,” the Natal Rich Boys’ coach added.

Richards Bay’s next opportunity to secure that first victory comes in a local derby against Milford. The match will be played at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.

The fixture gives Gabriel’s side a chance to respond to its opening five results while trying to turn the performances he has praised into a first league win of the campaign.

An audio version of the story was generated using AI.