By Michael Madyira
Vusumuzi Vilakazi is set to continue coaching Richards Bay after he helped them survive relegation during the just-ended Premier Soccer League playoffs.
The 41-year-old got the head coach job in December after joining the Natal Rich Boyz as part of Kaitano Tembo’s backroom staff.
His contract is due to expire at the end of June, but club chairman Jomo Biyela says they will reward the former Golden Arrows star with a new deal.
“Why fix it if it’s not broken?” Biyela told SuperSport TV.
“We will sit down with him and finalise some things. But there is no reason for him to leave.”
He said Vilakazi took them from 12 to 30 points with the same players, and they must support him.
“We can’t just chase him away now that we are safe,” he said.
Richards Bay finished the regular PSL season second from the bottom, a position they were stuck in for the better part of the campaign.
But Vilakazi managed to rescue them in the relegation/promotion play-offs involving National First Division sides University of Pretoria and Baroka FC.
Richards Bay survived the chop in style after emphatically beating Baroka 4-0 on Wednesday at home, earning Vilakazi the trust of his bosses.
“I thank the chairman for entrusting me with this huge responsibility. He put me in this situation to become victorious. I think it will have a huge impact on my career,” he said.
“I must thank the players – you can’t do anything if the players don’t buy into your ideas. Their confidence was there until the end.”
Richards Bay will now go on the off-season break and return at a time when other PSL teams are already deep in pre-season training.
Pictured above: Richards Bay coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi.
Source: Richards Bay
