By Michael Madyira
Richards Bay breathed life into their fight to stay in the Premier Soccer League with a 1-0 victory over University of Pretoria in a promotion/relegation play-offs clash at King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday.
Somalia Ntsundwana’s 22nd-minute beautiful strike was all that was needed to separate the two sides.
After spending the better part of their PSL campaign on position 15 for the better part of the season, the Natal Rich Boyz were always dicing with relegation.
But they boosted their survival chances by collecting maximum points in their first match of the play-offs to lead this round-robin.
It was, however, a setback for Pretoria University, which had edged Baroka FC 1-0 last Sunday to take charge of the play-offs.
Richards Bay had all their key players available for Wednesday’s clash as AmaTuks welcomed back midfielder Promise Mkhuma from suspension.
In their first realistic chance of the match, Richards Bay got their breakthrough on a counter after goalkeeper Salim Magoola picked Yamela Mbuthuma who set up Ntsundwana for a beautiful curler from the edge of the box.
The Tshwane visitors thought they equalised just after the half-hour mark when Thabang Sibanyoni beat Magoola but the referee ruled it offside.
Sibanyoni was back seven minutes into the second half but was denied by Magoola, who rescued the hosts from what was a dangerous situation.
Pretoria University were relying on high balls but their forwards were struggling to direct headed efforts at goal.
The Natal Rich Boyz held on to their slender advantage to claim three points and they now meet Baroka FC on Saturday as AmaTuks take a breather before returning to face Bakgaga ba Mphahlele next week.
Pictured above: Richards Bay forward Yamela Mbuthuma shrugs off the challenge of Pretoria University defender Tshepang Makara.
Image source: Richards Bay
